U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung undertook a visit to Jaffna from the 24th to the 27th of April in her initial trip to northern Sri Lanka as Ambassador.
“It was essential to me to visit the North early in my tenure as Ambassador,” said Ambassador Chung.
She said, “During the visit, I explored the history of the region and heard from people first-hand about their challenges and opportunities. I gained a much better understanding of the impact of the war and the human rights concerns, as well as the current economic situation in the North.”
The US Embassy in Colombo said that while in Jaffna, Ambassador Chung had courtesy calls with the Northern Province Governor and the Commander of Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna to discuss the political and security situation in the North during the current economic crisis.
She engaged with civil society and met with families of missing and disappeared persons. The Ambassador underscored the importance of the ongoing efforts toward justice and accountability towards national reconciliation and unity.
In a meeting with Tamil politicians, Ambassador Chung discussed human rights and governance challenges. Ambassador Chung also met with representatives of diverse religious communities and visited sites of worship to underscore the importance of religious pluralism in Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Chung also spoke with representatives of the business community to learn about their current challenges and efforts toward economic recovery. Ambassador noted the potential for Diaspora investment to develop local businesses.
In addition, the Ambassador visited a U.S.-funded demining project that makes land viable for local communities. Ambassador Chung met with University of Jaffna faculty members to discuss their new peacebuilding degree program and the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation grants for the Archeological Museum Laboratory. Ambassador Chung also visited a U.S.-funded palm leaves manuscript conservation project at the Jaffna Library.
Before she returned to Colombo, Ambassador Chung met with local youth leaders at the American Corner in Jaffna to learn about their perspectives on a path forward towards an inclusive and prosperous future for all Sri Lankans.
The US Embassy further said this was Ambassador Chung’s second official trip outside the Colombo area, adding that her first trip was to the Kandy region.
The Embassy added that she looks forward to visiting many more parts of the country over the coming months. (NewsWire)