Despite past partisan outburst, US Envoy adopts pragmatism on Lankan crisis

Taking a somewhat partisan approach to Sri Lankan issues at her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 28 this year, American ambassador Alaina Teplitz in an interview this week to the Colombo media signaled a non-partisan approach to the emerged tense atmosphere resulted in ‘hiring and firing’ of prime minister which took effect on 26 October.

What she grasped facing the Senate confirmation hearing obviously was based on briefing papers she received from a very partisan US ambassador Atul Keshap. It is a general practice that when a newly nominated envoy before facing the Senate committee for confirmation hearing goes through the briefing papers. The briefing papers Alaina Teplitz went through were forwarded by the U.S. diplomatic mission in Colombo. What she testified before the senate committee were based on highly partisan views documented by her predecessor Ambassador Atul Keshap who was openly interfering in the domestic affairs of Sri Lanka, and was using his prestigious diplomatic position to draw the national agenda for the Sirisena-Wickremasinghe administration which included the promulgation a federal structure.

It seems to the Asian Tribune that since arriving in Colombo as Washington’s diplomatic envoy she understood the scenario different to that of Atul Keshap. To the media this week, she emphasized non-interference in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka expressing some choice words to disseminate the ‘non-interference’ message.

The position she took at the confirmation hearing cannot be said as partisan – in fact they were hard facts - but, as she absolutely had no knowledge of Sri Lanka, depended on the briefing papers she received from the state department prepared by its Colombo mission which highlighted several political developments and occurrences prior to the formation of the Sirisena-Wickremasinghe regime. Those remarks did not fit well to a nominee who had no knowledge of the fast moving and changing political scenario in Sri Lanka. Had she known the changing political atmosphere in Sri Lanka – especially the gradual emergence of onetime strong man Mahinda Rajapaksa – she would have adjusted her remarks.

The remarks ambassador-nominee Alaina Teplitz made before the senate confirmation were:

(Quote) Sri Lanka has come a long way since voters in 2015 rejected the corruption, strife, and repression of the past and threw their support behind a reform, reconciliation, and accountability agenda.

We continue to support Sri Lanka’s efforts to make good on its commitments to its people to come to terms with its past, implement justice and accountability measures, and secure a peaceful, prosperous future. We also support growth of Sri Lanka’s capacity to make greater contributions to regional stability while protecting its own sovereignty and national interests. Sri Lanka’s success in this endeavor will make it a stronger partner to the United States and contribute to our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (End Quote)

The Asian Tribune strongly believes that she succumbed to the strong partisan approach of Ambassador Atul Keshap when Ms. Teplitz made the remarks we have produced in the first two lines of the quote.

In an interview to Colombo’s Financial Times Ambassador seemed to have faced reality in taking a saner approach to the changing scenario in Sri Lanka’s political trajectory. If Atul Keshap’s Political Section in the U.S. diplomatic mission in Colombo failed to mention in the briefing papers the significance of the changed atmosphere at the February nationwide local government elections this year, she seems to have comprehended it when she said this week “We have no dog in this fight. We do not have favorites in this political contest. We are looking at an outcome that respects constitutional processes and transparency and produce a legitimate government.”

And she went on to emphasize “We are prepared to work with any Government that emerges from this legitimate, transparent and democratic process. Our concern is our friendship with the legitimate Government.” A very pragmatic approach – for now.

But she cautioned, as Asian Tribune at the outset of the crisis reminded:

“I have seen that a number of industry groups including Chambers of Commerce and Industry had come out and said ‘please resolve the political crisis’ as it is harming the business and economy and future opportunities. Political leaders should take the concerns of civil society and businesses onboard and understand that the crisis has impacted well beyond the political realm.

“We have paused it as MCC is based on the foundation of respect for the rule of law and good governance. We are waiting to see how the crisis is resolved before we could resume our negotiations and go forward. So there is definitely an impact from the crisis on some of our bilateral opportunities,” Ambassador Teplitz told the Financial Times.

It seems that Ambassador Teplitz’ approach could be pragmatic and somewhat non-partisan in comparison to her predecessor Atul Keshap who was acting like a viceroy drafting Sri Lanka’s agenda in his Executive Office at the US mission. This was a clear departure from the position she took at the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last June 28.

- Asian Tribune –