US Ambassador begins ‘cross party outreach’ with to SLPP HQ

US Ambassador Julie Chung visited the SLPP Headquarters in Battaramulla today, a day after a protest in front of the US Embassy in Colombo in which several SLPP members including a former MP took part.

Ambassador Chung said that the meeting with SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa and SLPP officials was part of a cross-party outreach by the US.  ‘The U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership has long been based on trust, respect, and shared democratic principles. Under President Trump, we'll be focused on advancing America’s interests and fostering global partnerships for a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future,” Ambassador Chung said on her X (formerly twitter) account.

Her visit to the SLPP headquarters came a day after a group identifying themselves as the Coalition Against Partition of Sri Lanka (CAPSL) staged a protest in front of the US Embassy in Colombo in which former SLPP MP Ananda Weerasekera was among the protestors.

MP Namal Rajapaksa who led the discussion with the US Ambassador said that they engaged in discussions of mutual interest and reaffirmed SLPP’s dedication to strengthening the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and Sri Lanka.

"We commend the non-interference foreign policy upheld by the US. President Donald Trump and his call for greater transparency in the use of taxpayer funds. Additionally, we briefed Ambassador Chung on SLPP’s proposal for a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate the use of USAID funds by both registered and unregistered NGOs in Sri Lanka, with a focus on ensuring transparency in the allocation of US taxpayer resources,” MR. Rajapaksa said on his X account.

He said the SLPP looks forward to collaborating closely with the new US administration for the mutual benefit of both nations.