Robert Blake

“Aid given to Sri Lanka will depend some what on the country's commitment to political reconciliation and progress of human rights”, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake told media on Wednesday.

Blake who visited Menik Farm IDP camps in Vavuniya said that Sri Lanka has made good progress towards resettling war affected people but human rights issues have yet to be addressed.

Press Freedom

Commenting on media freedom Blake said, “There are still a lot of concerns about press freedom”.

Journalists in Sri Lanka are still facing threats and intimidation and individuals should be able to voice differences openly, he said.

He further added that those who have violated the rights should be accountable for their actions and the US senate report needs to be taken seriously by the government.

Blake said that he is optimistic that the Sri Lankan government could keep to its targets on resettling the internally displaced in the North.