WASHINGTON, DC--U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, provided the following statement which was read at the Global Tamil Forum inaugural event in London on Wednesday.
"As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on South Asia, I have examined the unfortunate effects of the conflict in Sri Lanka. I have sought to shed light on the plight of internally displaced people and the importance of development in post-conflict Sri Lanka. As Americans, we will continue to seek opportunities to play a constructive role in post-conflict Sri Lanka. As Sri Lanka heals from the horrors of war, it will also require that the Tamil population in and outside the country play a key role in the development of Sri Lanka’s infrastructure as well as its social fabric."
"I want to thank the Global Tamil Forum for its efforts to support the democratic process in Sri Lanka, especially during this difficult time in the country’s history. I hope that the Sri Lankan people will be able to come together and focus on a common future that moves beyond war, terrorism and violence as means of political expression. I also want to applaud the work of the U.S. Tamil Political Action Council. USTPAC has raised awareness of the humanitarian crisis facing the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and has played a constructive role in educating U.S. policymakers. I look forward to our continued cooperation and wish you a successful forum in London."
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