However, despite Bogollagama’s request, the Senator had refused to meet with the Minister.
Senator Patrick Leahy, who was elected to the United States Senate in 1974, remains the only Democrat elected to this office from Vermont.

During his stay in Washington, Bogollagama had met with Congressman Frank Pallone and Congressman Jerry Weller (Republican) who have been the long standing Chairpersons of the Sri Lanka Congressional Caucus, Congressman Jim McDermott Congressman Rush Holt (Democrat/New Jersey), Congressman Scott Garrett (Republican/New Jersey) Congressman Robert Aderholt (Republican/Alabama) and Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns.

Two weeks ago, Sri Lankan expatriates in the United States had requested a meeting with Leahy in regard to his recent resolution, but he had refused to meet with the Lankans. The senator’s chief foreign relations advisor Tim Rieser had also refused to meet with the expatriates. He is additionally the Staff Director for the Senate Foreign Aid Subcommittee chaired by Leahy.

In a message to the expatriates, Tim Rieser had however noted that, ‘the Senator’s resolution on withholding foreign aid for Sri Lanka has nothing to do with the LTTE and that Sri Lanka has been “utterly unwilling to take responsibility” for its actions.’

This resolution will become law only after it receives the approval of US President George W. Bush.
Meanwhile, during a meeting held between Bogollagama and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns on Thursday, the issues raised in the amendment proposed by Senator Leahy to the Department of State Appropriation Bill for 2008, to introduce restrictions on defense cooperation with Sri Lanka on account of alleged human rights issues was discussed at length.

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