US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Sri Lanka later this month as part of a trip to the Indo-Pacific region, announced the US State Department.
“Secretary Pompeo will express America’s solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka as they stand united against the despicable Easter Sunday terrorist attacks,” State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said.
“He will also discuss promising opportunities for U.S.-Sri Lanka cooperation based on shared commitments to a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” Ortagus added.
Before arriving in Colombo, Pompeo will visit New Delhi in India, which he told reporters will be “an important part of President Trump’s strategy in the Indo-Pacific.”
“Prime Minister Modi’s recent election victory provides an excellent opportunity for him to implement his vision for a strong and prosperous India that plays a leading role on the global stage,” Ortagus commented.
The announcement of the visit comes after United States Representatives from both main parties discussed the threat of radical Sinhala nationalism in Sri Lanka and the country's lack of progress on transitional justice during a briefing of the 'Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka' held in Washington DC last month.
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