The United States plans to “do a lot to support Sri Lanka” said the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary from the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, during an address made to the Washington International Business Council this week.
Richard E. Hoagland said that the Sri Lankan presidential elections which saw the defeat of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa had “brought about a sea-change in our relationship with Sri Lanka.”
“The new president has moved the country away from divisive politics and crony capitalism toward a new path of reconciliation and inclusive development,” said Mr Hoagland.
“We plan to do a lot to support Sri Lanka’s pursuit of that new path, to strengthen its governance, especially its judicial and financial institutions,” he added. “This new path will be a boon for the Sri Lankan people, but also for U.S. interests: we can now work together with Sri Lanka to promote good governance and human rights abroad, as well as improve maritime security in the Indian Ocean.”
See his full address “Developments in South and Central Asia” here.
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