US-Sri Lanka relations at an all-time high, says US Ambassador
View(s):While the US is expecting major policy changes with the election of the new President Donald Trump, the US Ambassador for Sri Lanka and Maldives Atul Keshap said that US-Sri Lanka relations are at an all-time high.
Inaugurating the Sri Lanka – US Business Council after six decades of bilateral partnership between the two countries, Mr. Keshap made this statement last Tuesday at the Hilton Colombo Residencies. It is the 22nd council to be launched under the aegis of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Keshap said, “It’s a very promising new beginning for bilateral trade ties between the two countries. US-Sri Lanka relations are at an all-time high.” Americans believe in the vision articulated by Sri Lankans and how people are sketched out of the democratic, peaceful, reconciled and unified Sri Lanka, a country with equal opportunity for all with diversified ethnicity and beliefs, he added.
He also mentioned that, since 1956 the US government has provided more than US$2 billion for development and humanitarian assistance to benefit the people of the country. The US government’s development assistance package in 2015 for Sri Lanka was around $16 million. US is Sri Lanka’s largest export market which accounted for nearly $3 billion in 2015, reflecting a 27 per cent of total exports, a 7 per cent increase year-on-year. As per estimation half of Sri Lanka’s apparel and textile exports are to the US, he noted.
“We see business taking place with the US in the apparel, rubber and many other sectors. Also a lot of American IT companies are working with Sri Lankan IT firms to ensure mutual prosperity between the two countries.”
Sri Lanka US Business Council President, Samantha Rajapaksa said, “Sri Lanka is on the brink of promoting more trade to the US market. We are having partnerships with a fast changing global market player, with possible trade policy changes. Also for Sri Lanka coming out of a period of terrorism, political changes and international challenges, it is an ideal time.”