Shutdown used abroad to skewer US democracy agenda

{mosads}The editorial did not escape the notice of the State Department.

“The United States, and particularly many in Congress, have urged the government in Sri Lanka to more aggressively pursue reconciliation and accountable government, something we care a lot about,” spokeswoman Marie Harf said at her press briefing. “But today, in the Sri Lankan press, they’re watching what’s going on in Washington.”

Harf said that “right now, we’re not living up to all of those standards” – and the world is taking notice.

The editorial comes on the heels of a US-backed UN Human Rights Council resolution earlier this year that called on Sri Lanka to promote reconciliation between the majority Sinhalese population and the minority Tamils. The resolution also encourages the Sri Lankan government to credibly investigate allegations of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

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