Jindal joins call to Bush on Lanka

US Congressman Bobby Jindal exhorts the US president to send a peace envoy to Lanka, reports PK Balachandran.

Bobby Jindal, US Congressman of Indian origin, is among 38 Congressmen who have asked President George W Bush to send a special envoy to Sri Lanka to bring peace to that country, torn by war and violence for more than two decades now.

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"It is time for the United States to provide global leadership to help advance peace for the people of Sri Lanka. The citizens of Sri Lanka have endured violence and civil war for too long.

"America must do everything she can to foster lasting peace for the country. We request you to appoint a special envoy for Sri Lanka to help bring peace to the country," the Congressmen said in a letter to Bush dated January 31.

The Congressmen drew the attention of the President to reports that in the past year alone, 3,400 people were killed and over 200,000 displaced.

"Further, we are troubled by the large increase in kidnappings across Sri Lanka, most of which remain unsolved."

"You clearly understand the situation in Sri Lanka is untenable and must be addressed," the US lawmakers said.