US help to strengthen SL reforms and justice system
The US Government is granting US$2.6 million under a new programme to help reform Sri Lanka’s justice system including training to improve individual skills, promote policies to professionalize criminal justice institutions and practitioners and ensure better coordination between police and prosecutors.
In addition a separate programme will help build Sri Lanka’s capacity to handle complex crimes such as corruption, narcotics trafficking and financial and organized crimes.
This was stated by US Ambassador Atul Keshap when he addressed the 23rd AGM of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AMCHAM) held this week in Colombo.
At this AGM, Asanka Ratnayake was re-elected for the second time as the President, of AMCHAM.
Continuing, Mr Keshap said that for nearly a quarter century, AmCham has worked to cultivate trade and investment ties between Sri Lanka and the US and the ties are now firmly rooted. He commented, “My confidence is fuelled by the remarkable changes that have taken place in Sri Lanka, changes ushered in by the voters of Sri Lanka in the January presidential election and ratified by the voters of Sri Lanka in the recent parliamentary elections.” He said the people elected President (Maithripala) Sirisena and Premier (Ranil) Wickremesinghe believing their promise to implement a reform agenda aimed at establishing transparent governance.
Thus they have begun taking steps to level the business playing field in ways that give renewed confidence to other foreign companies and investors looking to do business in Sri Lanka.
American businessmen, he said are now looking forward to real progress in important economic sectors such as energy, transport and others where US companies have put forward specific proposals to the government.
He said that recently the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) finalised a US$2 million award to carry out a 12-month project aimed at strengthening the government’s management of public finances.
He said that this project is a key component of their overall strategy to support Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption efforts, recognises that transparent public finance practices benefit businesses – both domestic and foreign – and the nation as a whole.
He said “These are just two elements of our planned US$40 million in bilateral cooperation to be implemented over the next few years.”