May 2, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 72 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S2620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 184--CONDEMNING THE EASTER SUNDAY TERRORIST ATTACKS 
  IN SRI LANKA, OFFERING SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO THE VICTIMS, TO THEIR 
 FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, AND TO THE PEOPLE AND NATION OF SRI LANKA, AND 
            EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY AND SUPPORT FOR SRI LANKA

  Mr. RISCH (for himself, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Romney, and Mr. Murphy) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 184

       Whereas, on April 21, 2019, Sri Lanka suffered a horrific 
     series of coordinated terrorist attacks that killed more than 
     250 people and injured more than 500 additional people;
       Whereas the attacks targeted Christian churches, in which 
     innocent men, women, and children were celebrating Easter 
     Sunday;
       Whereas the attacks targeted several locations frequented 
     by foreign tourists, resulting in the deaths of over 40 
     people from nations other than Sri Lanka, including four 
     American citizens: Dieter Kowalski, Amelie Linsey, Daniel 
     Linsey, and Kieran Shafritz de Zoysa;
       Whereas Sri Lanka has determined that a local Islamist 
     militant group perpetrated this horrifying attack and is 
     responsible for the resulting loss of life, injury, and 
     destruction;
       Whereas the use of nine suicide bombers in multiple 
     locations demonstrates a high degree of coordination and 
     planning;
       Whereas growing evidence links the Islamic State to these 
     attacks, demonstrating this terrorist organization's 
     continued reach and capability to inflict terror, violence, 
     and brutality around the world, despite its loss of physical 
     territory;
       Whereas religious freedom is a foundational and universal 
     right of all people, and religious freedom and tolerance are 
     important to the flourishing of multi-religious societies 
     like Sri Lanka;
       Whereas Sri Lanka has worked towards a lasting peace, 
     ethnic and religious harmony, and prosperity for all;
       Whereas the rights of all religious minorities must be 
     protected, including the rights of Christians, who, among 
     other religious communities, have faced increased violence in 
     recent years from terrorist groups around the world;
       Whereas the United States values its partnership with Sri 
     Lanka and seeks to build on that partnership by pursuing 
     shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region;
       Whereas the United States is home to a large Sri Lankan 
     diaspora, who make significant contributions to American 
     society; and
       Whereas American law enforcement officials and military 
     personnel are supporting the Sri Lankan Government's 
     investigation of this attack: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns, in the strongest terms, the terrorist attacks 
     perpetrated by violent Islamist extremists against innocent 
     civilians on Easter Sunday;
       (2) condemns the use violence against people of religious 
     faith, including in their places of worship;
       (3) offers its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the 
     victims, their families and friends, and to the nation of Sri 
     Lanka;
       (4) reaffirms its solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka 
     and its support for the United States partnership with the 
     nation of Sri Lanka;
       (5) notes, on this 10th anniversary of the end of Sri 
     Lanka's civil war, the importance of national unity and 
     encourages the Government of Sri Lanka to foster such unity, 
     including religious and ethnic tolerance;
       (6) supports efforts to ensure the protection of all Sri 
     Lankans against retaliatory attacks as the country recovers 
     from this tragedy;
       (7) reaffirms its commitment to religious freedom and the 
     importance of protecting the rights of all religious 
     minorities, including Christians;
       (8) calls attention to the continued and serious threat 
     posed by the Islamic State and other international terrorist 
     organizations; and
       (9) calls upon the United States Government and all other 
     governments to continue the fight against violent extremism.

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