U.S. State Secretary arrives in Sri Lanka

Secretary of State of United States, Michael R. Pompeo has arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago (27) for two-day bilateral discussions, says the U.S. Embassy in Colombo.

He was accorded a warm welcome by Ambassador of U.S. to Sri Lanka, Alaina B. Teplitz and Sri Lankan officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.

In a tweet posted following his arrival, the State Secretary said he is proud of the work the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka does to strengthen our ties with the government, businesses, and people of Sri Lanka.

Pompeo also said he is looking forward to expanding on those efforts during his visit.

Thank you for the warm welcome, @USAmbSLM. I’m excited to be here in Colombo. I’m proud of the work @USEmbSL does to strengthen our ties with the government, businesses, and people of Sri Lanka and look forward to expanding on those efforts during my visit. #USwithSL pic.twitter.com/Q1kUtio1u4

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) October 27, 2020

In the days leading up to the U.S. presidential vote, Pompeo is travelling to New Delhi, India; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Malé, Maldives; and Jakarta, Indonesia between the 25th and 30th of October.

The U.S. delegation led by the State Secretary landed in India on Monday (26). In New Delhi, Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper and their Indian counterparts are leading the third annual U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue to advance the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and expand cooperation to promote stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and the world.

During his visit in Sri Lanka, Pompeo is expected to hold bilateral talks with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and other high-profile officials on several areas of the multifaceted engagement between the two countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the U.S. State Secretary undertaking this official visit to Sri Lanka on an invitation extended by his Sri Lankan counterpart, Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

After Colombo, Pompeo will travel to Malé to reaffirm their close bilateral relationship and advance their partnership on issues ranging from regional maritime security to the fight against terrorism.

Thereafter, the Secretary will travel to Jakarta to deliver public remarks and meet with his Indonesian counterparts to affirm the two countries’ vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.