Robert Blake, recently confirmed as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, said that Sri Lanka must quickly carry out a three-step plan for reconciling with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). He had said so the Serendipity Group, a gathering of foreign services officers and others with an interest in Sri Lanka.

Expressing gratitude for the end of terrorism, Blake said that the immediate concern is carrying out de-mining activities in order to resettle the 280,000 displaced civilians now living in temporary government welfare centers. He praised President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s pledge to return most of the displaced to their homes in 180 days.

Blake said a second priority for Sri Lanka will be to engage the displaced civilians through elections and an expanded political process. He also urged the government to give displaced civilians identification cards so that they can take part in elections.

Blake suggested that Sri Lanka move to re-establish northern residents’ livelihoods. He viewed the government’s recent decision to lift fishing restrictions in the North and East as an important step in that direction.

Blake had a discussion with Sri Lanka’s ambassador to the U.S., Jaliya Wickramasuriya on the resettlement of IDPs, plans for redevelopment and elections in the Northern Province.

“Ambassador Blake has seen the situation in Sri Lanka change dramatically during his service there. He knows what Sri Lankan citizens have lived through, and the challenges that we face in the years to come”, said Ambassador Wickramasuriya.

Political observers have noted that the government has already announced Aug. 8 elections for the Northern cities of Jaffna and Vavunia and has started a program to issue identity cards to the IDPs.