November 23, 2015
Ambassador Power met with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on November 23, 2015, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Ambassador Power relayed President Obama’s warm greetings and thanked President Sirisena for his early steps to restore the key pillars of democracy, to reestablish good governance in support of economic growth, and to foster reconciliation and accountability.
Ambassador Power noted the strong interest that the United States and the international community have in the success of Sri Lanka. She underscored that the United States looks forward, as reforms progress, to an ever-deepening bilateral relationship, to include stronger trade and investment linkages and enhanced military relations.
Ambassador Power commended President Sirisena for Sri Lanka’s co-sponsorship of the Geneva resolution on justice and reconciliation, and urged the swift and credible fulfillment of its terms. Ambassador Power expressed her strong support for expanding efforts to restore normalcy to former conflict areas, account for missing persons, release political prisoners, and return families to their lands.
Ambassador Power encouraged President Sirisena to reform Sri Lanka’s security architecture to serve its national security needs without undermining human rights and the rule of law.
Ambassador Power offered strong support for Sri Lanka’s efforts to deploy more troops in UN peacekeeping operations and reiterated President Obama’s appreciation for Sri Lanka’s significant troop and police commitments, which will strengthen peacekeeping globally.
