Speaking at a media conference, United States (US) Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Alaina Teplitz, called on the Government of Sri Lanka to abide by its international commitments to human rights and take decisive steps to either repeal or amend Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), reports Tamil Guardian on August 2. Commenting on the recent pardoning of 16 alleged former Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) members detained under the PTA, Tepliz applauded the measure and encouraged for more people to be released “who have been detained under that legislation that no longer conforms to international norms and does need to be revised”.
Teplitz’s statement was met with criticism from a journalist at Sri Lanka’s state-run Hiru TV news, who claimed her statement overlooked the release of former LTTE cadres by condemning the pardon of Duminda Silva. Responding to this criticism, she stated “I encouraged the government to continue its review, which it said that it’s doing… it is also my prerogative as a representative of the United States to express the views and the policy concerns of my country.”
Commenting on her discussions with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Teplitz maintains that she was keen to hear “their concerns related to needed changes in the political process and some of the challenges that people face in the north and the east”.