Frank Pallone: “I rise this evening to encourage a new round of peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers…”

“I rise this evening to encourage a new round of peace talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers. Recent conciliatory actions by the Sri Lankan Government, as well as strong international support for peace, offers progress in finding a resolution to this conflict. However, the Tamil Tigers need to be encouraged to return to the negotiating table in order to continue this momentum towards peace. Sri Lanka, Mr. Speaker, is a nation that has suffered a tremendous loss of nearly 65,000 lives due to a long-standing conflict between Sri Lankans and the Tamil Tigers. Finally, on February 22nd of last year, the Norwegian Government brokered a cease-fire signed by both groups, but the peace process remains far from complete. Excluded from a preliminary conference held in Washington this April, the Tamil Tigers then withdrew from participating in the Tokyo Donor Conference that is currently taking place. However, recent developments on the part of the Sri Lankan Government and the international community offer some progress.”