The high-level US delegation, led by Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu met with the Speaker Dr Asoka Ranwala recently at the Parliament premises.

The delegation included key officials such as the Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia at USAID Anjali Kaur and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia at the US Department of the Treasury Robert Kaproth among others.

The meeting focused on the Sri Lanka’s reform priorities and the critical role of Parliament in advancing the Sri Lankan peoples’ mandate of accountability, transparency, and inclusive governance.

The Speaker expressed his gratitude for the ongoing support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Sri Lanka, highlighting its contributions to strengthening the relationship between the people and Parliament through various programs. He also emphasized his hope for continued US support to strengthen parliamentary democracy in the future.

The delegation reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s progress and strengthening Parliament democracy.

Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, USAID Mission Director Gabriel Grau, Private Secretary to the Speaker Ranapriya Abayasinghe were also present on this occasion. (Newswire)

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The US delegation led by Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA) Donald Lu met with Foreign Minister, Vijitha Herath earlier today.

The delegation included representatives from key agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Department of Treasury.

“We congratulated Sri Lanka’s new administration and discussed shared priorities, and explored ways we can work together through tailored programs, capacity-building, and technical assistance to support Sri Lanka’s economic and governance reforms to benefit the Sri Lankan people,” US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said in a post on ‘X’ (Newswire)

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US Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to Sri Lanka on 05 December 2024.

Issuing a statement, the US State Department said the US Assistant Secretary will engage in the tour alongside his visit to India, and Nepal. 

Donald Lu’s trip is expected to strengthen cooperation with key partners in South Asia to promote regional prosperity and security.

On December 5, US Assistant Secretary Lu will travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, to advance U.S.-Sri Lankan joint efforts to promote sustainable economic growth, combat corruption, and strengthen people-to-people ties.  

USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Anjali Kaur and Department of the Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Kaproth will join the Assistant Secretary to meet with senior government officials from Sri Lanka’s new administration and representatives from civil society.  

The US State Department says discussions will deepen ties with the new government, support its efforts to combat corruption and explore how the United States can support Sri Lanka’s governance and economic reform agenda through tailored technical assistance, capacity building, and development programs. (Newswire)

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Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu met with Sri Lanka’s Opposition representatives in his continued engagement with the country’s government and civil society leaders. 

The top US official met with the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa to discuss the ongoing partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States. 

During the meeting Premadasa appealed to Lu for assistance in addressing the country’s current financial challenges.

Present at the meeting were several key Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) members including Harsha de Silva, Eran Wickramaratne and Kavinda Jayawardena. Notably, dissident Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna member G L Peiris was also present at the meeting.

Lu, who also met with representatives of the National People’s Power (NPP) yesterday in Colombo, discussed a range of topics including the economy, the IMF programme, ensuring the integrity of electoral processes, and security dynamics within the Indian Ocean region.

NPP National Executive Members Vijitha Herath, Wasantha Samarasinghe, and Nalinda Jayatissa were present at the meeting. (Newswire)

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Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu was welcomed by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung at the US Embassy in Colombo today.

“Great to welcome @State_SCA Assistant Secretary Donald Lu back to Sri Lanka for meetings with government and civil society leaders as we reaffirm and strengthen the decades-long partnership between our two nations,” Ambassador Chung said, taking to ‘X’.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu commenced his official visit to Sri Lanka today.

He is set to engage with officials from across the political spectrum and civil society to deepen the United States’s partnership with Sri Lanka. 

Earlier, the US State Department said Donald Lu’s trip would strengthen bilateral cooperation with Sri Lanka and demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

In his meetings, Assistant Secretary Lu is set to reaffirm the United States’ support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and the importance of a robust civil society as a cornerstone of a free and democratic society. (Newswire)

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The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will visit Sri Lanka, alongside his travel to India and Bangladesh from May 10 -15. 

According to the US State Department, his trip will strengthen bilateral cooperation with each country and demonstrate US support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

Concluding his visit to India, Assistant Secretary Lu will visit Colombo, during which he will engage with officials from across the political spectrum and deepen the United States’ partnership with Sri Lanka. 

In his meetings, he will reaffirm the United States’ support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, as well as the importance of a robust civil society as a cornerstone of a free and democratic society. (Newswire)

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The United States will assist in supporting Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu said.

Speaking at the US Institute of Peace (USIP) on the Indo-Pacific strategy, Donald Lu said this will be done by providing the nation with patrol boats and aircraft.

“The US Government will provide patrol boats to the Sri Lankan Military. We are also set to deliver a King Aircraft this year that will help Sri Lanka patrol its coastal borders,” he said. 

Donald Lu further said that through the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) initiative, the US will provide real-time commercial satellite data to countries around this broader region, including South Asia.

“This will be transformative. This will help countries to figure out how they defend themselves against piracy, drug trafficking, and illegal fishing,” he pointed out. 

Commending Sri Lanka on its recent progress related to economic recovery, Donald Lu said Sri Lanka has made a historic comeback with a little bit of help from all countries. (NewsWire)

"Will deliver aircraft to Sri Lanka to patrol its coastal water", says US Diplomat Doland Lu; Adds, Will provide commercial real time data, calls India's Information fusion centre @IFC_IOR as "transformative". From speech at @USIP pic.twitter.com/EnL0kWh4hl

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) February 18, 2024

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