SL committed to broaden and strengthen ties with Washington: Mangala

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, addressing the National Press Club in Washington DC yesterday, highlighted the fact that Sri Lanka and the United States are two countries that shared “common values and ideals based on a commitment to democratic principles and governance.” The Minister pointed out that people to people contact between the two countries pre-dated diplomatic relations in 1948 by 150 years. Speaking on the government’s commitment to broaden and strengthen ties between Washington and Colombo, Minister Samaraweera emphasised that the US remained the single largest export market for Sri Lanka and the second largest foreign direct investor in the country and therefore was an important stakeholder in Sri Lanka’s economic development. The Minister briefed his audience on the transformation taking place in Sri Lanka following the election of President Maithripala Sirisena and that his visit to the US was to apprise the US administration on the roadmap and ambitious 100 day programme of the new government and the deep commitment to strengthen democracy, independence of the judiciary, respect for the rule of law and ensuring all communities in Sri Lanka enjoyed the peace dividend which President Sirisena’s administration had pledged.