Blake Seeks MR Meeting
By Jamila Najmuddin
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake, who is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka this week, has sought a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, sources said.
Sources at the US Embassy in Colombo told The Sunday Leader that while the meeting has been sought the agenda which is likely to be the focus of the discussion, if President Rajapaksa agrees to the meeting, was not known.
A US statement last week said that Blake will meet in Sri Lanka with government and non-governmental officials, university students and political leaders but did not make any reference to a possible meeting with President Rajapaksa.
The visiting US envoy is also expected to hold a press briefing at the end of his visit to Sri Lanka, his second visit to the country this year.
International news agencies said yesterday that Blake may raise allegations of war crimes during his stay in Colombo and impress on the need for an international independent investigation in the country.
A US State department spokesperson had told reporters last week that the US continues to urge the Sri Lankan government to comply with international humanitarian laws and obligations or the international community will step in.
No more meetings as this regime is buying time and destroy evidences of war crimes and human rights abuses.
Full scale independent investigation of war crimes must be conducted without further delay in order to deliver justice.
This is the last opportunity for the International community to try this Sri Lankan tyrant.