Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today (23) on the sidelines of the 33rd ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Manila. He held a brief discussion with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on advancing bilateral relations and cooperation.

Minister Herath also met US Ambassador in India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor today, where talks centered on strengthening long‑standing bilateral ties, including trade. The two sides discussed possible collaboration on effective dengue control measures being implemented in Sri Lanka.

Herath further engaged with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today, reviewing ongoing cooperation and exploring priority initiatives to deepen the Russia–Sri Lanka partnership. He noted plans to work closely with Lavrov on initiatives to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027.

In another bilateral meeting today, Minister Herath met Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. The two ministers reaffirmed the importance of strengthening friendly ties between Sri Lanka and Brazil, with emphasis on cooperation in the agriculture sector. Minister Herath expressed appreciation for Brazil’s offer of technical assistance to support the development of Sri Lanka’s sugar cane industry. (Newswire)

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a message on February 3 congratulating the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the Independence Day, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to deepening its partnership with the island nation.

“It is a great honor to congratulate the people of Sri Lanka as they celebrate their National Day,” Rubio said, noting of the shared commitment between the two countries to a “free, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Rubio said that under the Donald Trump administration, US-Sri Lanka relations have continued to strengthen, highlighting recent cooperation in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

He said that the United States was proud to provide life-saving assistance, expertise, and resources to support Sri Lanka’s recovery efforts.

“In the coming year, we will continue to cooperate to advance our economic ties, promote regional stability, and support the aspirations of our peoples,” he said. (Newswire)

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