In a bipartisan push, U.S. Congress is pressuring the Biden administration to formally hold Sri Lanka accountable for decades-long human rights abuses, especially against the minority Tamil population. A letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken from 12 Congressional members highlighted Sri Lanka’s consistent failures to make strides towards justice and accountability.

The plea follows the backdrop of the Sri Lankan Civil War, which spanned from 1983 to 2009. The conflict witnessed sectarian violence between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamil population, with both the armed forces and rebel groups committing heinous crimes. Despite the war ending over a decade ago, justice remains elusive. Over 15 independent commissions since the 1970s have tried and failed to address the nation’s dark history.

John Sifton from Human Rights Watch expressed the sentiment of many by stating that the entire approach of setting up commissions feels like déjà vu, with no tangible results in sight. Meanwhile, Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Center criticized the Sri Lankan government’s most recent initiatives as mere “window dressing”, aiming only to appease international stakeholders without genuinely addressing human rights concerns.

Congressional members, led by Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) and Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), are advocating for formal negotiations under the U.N. torture conventions. If no resolution emerges, the lawmakers suggest following Canada and the Netherlands’ example by taking the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Furthermore, several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have expressed concerns regarding Sri Lanka’s current approach, fearing that it might further traumatize the victims without achieving a significant outcome.

Emilia Rowland, the communications director for Rep. Lee, emphasized the urgency of the matter. She pointed out a recent report from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, urging the global community to pursue accountability for the war atrocities, as a major catalyst for the Congressional push.

It remains to be seen if Sri Lanka, a country that continues to suppress activists and journalists, will face consequences on the international stage. But for many, this renewed attention from the U.S. Congress provides a glimmer of hope for justice and accountability.