The United States has released a statement calling on Sri Lanka to hold independent and credible investigations into reported human rights abuses, adding that, where relevant, prosecutions should also be taking place.

In a statement marking the end of US Ambassador at large for War Crimes Stephen Rapp’s visit to the island, the United States said he had heard about the “continuing desire for reconciliation, justice and accountability”.

It went on to add,

The Sinhalese Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, has said that the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka does not support the allegations made by Tamil bishops to US officials last week.

Speaking to The Island, Cardinal Ranjith said that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka would not endorse the claims made by Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph and the Bishop of Jaffna Thomas Soundranayagam, saying those were the personal opinions of the Tamil bishops.

"The current political situation gives the military an ever-greater concentration of power. The heavy militarization of the north remains one of the main obstacles to the region’s recovery since the Sri Lankan military has assumed an economic role in not only overseeing but also approving development efforts. The military’s freedom of action represents a potent example of socioeconomic deprivation of a specific group based on the treatment of Tamils as second-class citizens by the Sri Lankan government.

Furthermore, the defeat of the LTTE in 2009 has done little to address the concerns and fears of the Tamils as they relate to Sinhalese domination. Instead of forming more inclusive relationships with the minority, the Sinhalese government has used this transitional period to reassert Sinhalese power. Additionally, police and military forces, as well as Sinhalese militias, continue to resort violence, including intimidation, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture, and even murder to restrain any opposition to the government.

The Island newspaper has reported that the US government recommended the Sri Lankan government to acquire cluster bombs, to strengthen the army against the LTTE.

"Frankly, Rapp is preparing the ground for human rights violations allegations against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in March. That was the ulterior motive of his visit to Sri Lanka. We are not surprised at this tweet, as we know that he came to make this kind of statements here, but we urge the members of the UNHRC not to be misled by this kind of imprudent diplomatic mission.”

Whilst meeting the US Ambassador at large for War Crimes, Stephen J. Rapp, Catholic bishops called for an international investigation into Sri Lanka’s use of cluster bombs and chemical weapons against Tamil civilians.

Rev. Rayappu Joseph and Rev. Thomas Saundaranayaga briefed Rapp, who was accompanied by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Michele Sison, on the use of such weapons by Sri Lankan government forces as well as attacks on hospitals and places of worship, alongside the blockade of food and medicine to Tamil civilians.