In a wide-ranging visit to Sri Lanka, US Special Representative for Racial Equality and Justice, Desirée Cormier Smith, met with Muslim and Tamil representatives during her first official trip to South Asia in this newly established role.
During her visit she met with community leaders, civil society actors, members of parliament and journalists.
Tamils
Great to meet with @MASumanthiran yesterday who shared insights on issues affecting the Tamil community in Northern and Eastern provinces in Sri Lanka and learn about initiatives aimed at fostering equality for all Sri Lankan citizens. pic.twitter.com/AmzDX4ah1i
— Special Representative Desirée Cormier Smith (@US_SRREJ) December 15, 2023
To gain insight into the issues afflicting Tamil in the North and East, Smith met with Tamil National Alliance representative MA Sumanthiran.
Hill Country Tamils
Appreciated meeting with Member of Parliament @ManoGanesan leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance. Elected officials can serve as powerful voices of the communities they represent. I’m eager to support progress aimed at uplifting the rights of Hill Country Tamils. pic.twitter.com/7MTcVk2KBl
— Special Representative Desirée Cormier Smith (@US_SRREJ) December 11, 2023
Smith also met with MPs Mano Ganesan and M. Velukumar, to better understand the concerns of Hill Country Tamils which include issues such as the right to land & housing.
I had an insightful meeting with Kandy District Member of Parliament M. Velukumar, who shed light on the work of the Tamil Progressive Alliance, including advocacy for Hill Country Tamil workers in tea estates on critical issues such as the right to land & housing. pic.twitter.com/jEUEhxKd0J
— Special Representative Desirée Cormier Smith (@US_SRREJ) December 14, 2023
Muslims
Grateful to hear from the Regaining Peace Sri Lanka (RPSL) Consortium. Their efforts to safeguard the rights of Muslims in Sri Lanka is a pathway to ethnic harmony. Inspired to see a group of intellectuals, professionals, and community leaders united in such a just cause. pic.twitter.com/AiEUpJ0rrk
— Special Representative Desirée Cormier Smith (@US_SRREJ) December 13, 2023
The US Special Representative also met with the “Regaining Peace Sri Lanka (RPSL) consortium” to learn about their efforts to safeguards the rights of Muslims on the island.
Her visit comes amidst growing alarm over religious majoritarianism with ethnic minorities criticising how the Sri Lankan state has enabled the Archeological Department to impose Buddhist monuments across the North and East.
The US State Department report on religious freedom has raised concerns over religious discrimination noting numerous reports of religious motivated attacks against Christians, Hindus and Muslims. Citing the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL), the report notes that in “many of the incidents, police or other state actors played a role, and in cases of intimidation or attacks by Buddhist groups on Christian churches, police often said the pastors were to blame”.
Despite this alarm, the US ambassador to Sri Lanka participated in a controversial Buddhist ceremony to appoint the new Chief Sanganayake of the Kotte Chapter, Thalangama
