The letter came less than a week after US government asked Sri Lanka to take measures to ensure the safety of Mr. Athas and his family.US State Department Acting Spokesman Tom Casey last week said that the government was concerned about the removal of the security of Mr. Athas.The text of the letter from Senator Biden to the President is says “The deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka is of great concern to all of your country’s friends. and the pace of their crimes has escalated since the failure of the ceasefire accord.

Abuses by government security forces have accelerated, as outlined in the State Department’s annual human rights reports.“I respectfully urge that the Government of Sri Lanka ensure that its forces, and all persons or groups informally affiliated with the government, respect the human rights of all citizens. Given the importance of a free, un intimidated press in safeguarding human rights in any country, I respectfully urge that the security detail and the police guard provided for Athas be fully and immediately restored, and that the threats and intimidation tactics against Athas and his newspapers be fully and credibly investigated.

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