Mr. MILLER of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, today marks the one-year anniversary of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka, which is a reason to be hopeful about the future of Sri Lanka. However, I also rise to voice my concern for a community at risk. The viability of a traditionally Tamil region in Sri Lanka is under threat. Since the beginning of the war, one third of the Tamil population was driven off the island and many more were displaced. A large area in the north central part of the island that was a predominantly Tamil area is now almost devoid of Tamils. According to the United Nations, more than 60 percent of homes in the north have been seriously damaged by the fighting.
Mr. MCMAHON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the one year anniversary of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. Although the war ended on May 19th, 2009, much work still needs to be done to ensure peace and stability on the island. Despite a pending debt crisis, the Sri Lanka government is still expanding its military footprint, including a $300 million loan from Russia to purchase new weapons systems. I would urge the Congress to include language in the FY11 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill similar to language included last year.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, May 19 commemorates the one-year anniversary of the end of the war and the remembrance of the many lives lost during the civil war in Sri Lanka. I call on the international community to pursue independent investigations into the alleged war crimes that occurred. The U.S. would not be alone in calling for these investigations. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the European Union have already called for independent investigations. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other NGOs have called for similar investigations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and human rights violations.
MR. HINCHEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark the first anniversary of the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka. President Rajapaksa promised to promote reconciliation on the island and resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). One year after the end of the war, there are still over 90,000 people who remain in detention and transit centers, including many women and children.