Colombo, December 7: On Saturday, Donald Lu, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayake to express the United States’ commitment to supporting anti-corruption initiatives in the country. Lu arrived in Sri Lanka on December 5 and is accompanied by a delegation that includes senior officials from USAID and the Treasury, as per a statement from the US State Department.
“We discussed US support for Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption measures, the recovery of misappropriated funds, and efforts to enhance the nation’s economy and sovereignty,” Dissanayake shared in a post on X following their meeting at the Presidential Secretariat.
“I highlighted the importance of promoting a transparent political environment, improving living standards in rural areas, and modernizing public services.”
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, tweeted that the “US delegation from the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, USAID, and the US Treasury congratulated President Anura Kumara Disanayake and his newly formed administration while discussing ways to strengthen cooperation in governance, agriculture, economic growth, and maritime security.”
She further noted that “the US has reiterated its support for Sri Lanka’s reform agenda, which includes anti-corruption measures, and emphasized the significance of involving civil society and the private sector.”
Lu, as Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau, is in Colombo as part of a tri-nation visit that includes India and Nepal.
On Friday, Lu met other Sri Lankan leaders, including Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya and Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath, to explore options for tailored technical assistance to support the economic reform agenda of the nation.
He also met with Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena.
This meeting marked Lu as the highest-ranking US official to engage with Dissanayake following his recent electoral victories.
In a statement released by the Sri Lankan President’s office, it was noted that the US has expressed its willingness to provide technical assistance in recovering Sri Lanka’s stolen assets.
During his election campaign, Dissanayake committed to taking action against the corrupt elite who have mismanaged the nation’s resources for over 75 years.
The US embassy in Colombo indicated that this visit aims to advance collaborative efforts between the US and Sri Lanka to promote sustainable economic development, combat corruption, and enhance people-to-people connections. (PTI)
