The United States announced that it is contributing a total of US$5.8 million to Sri Lanka, as part of coronavirus relief efforts, in line with its “long tradition of US support for Sri Lanka’s security and sovereignty”.
The announcement comes after US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina Teplitz met with Sri Lankan prime minister, and accused war criminal, Mahinda Rajapaksa this week.
“We want to remain a steadfast partner,” Teplitz reported said, according to a Sri Lankan press release.
“This assistance continues the long tradition of U.S. support for Sri Lanka’s security and sovereignty,” said Teplitz in a later US embassy statement. “Over the past 20 years, U.S. assistance in Sri Lanka has totaled more than $1 billion, including $26 million for health.”
The latest announcement comes after the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced last month it would donate $1.3 million USD to help support coronavirus prevention efforts, which are currently being led by a commander who is barred from travel to the US.
The tranche would also go through USAID and “includes $2 million to increase social services for areas and populations most impacted by the crisis, and support for activities that build social cohesion,” said the US embassy.
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