US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo has left for the Maldives after concluding his visit to Sri Lanka.

He had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last night for his two-day visit to Sri Lanka after concluding his visit to New Delhi, India.

The US State Secretary met with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (28).

Pompeo said that the productive talks focused on post-pandemic economic recovery and development and the importance of partnership between the two nations to bolster sustainable and transparent trade and investment that benefits the people of Sri Lanka.

He also met and held discussion with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Secretary of State tweeted that he reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Sri Lanka partnership. “Our cooperation on health and humanitarian issues is strong and the approaches we discussed to post-pandemic recovery will ensure sustainable and inclusive long-term development.”

Secretary Pompeo then visited the Shrine of St. Anthony  at Kochchikade in remembrance of the Easter Attacks and to show support for victims and their families. 

“We stand with the Sri Lankan people and the world to defeat violent extremism and bring perpetrators to justice,” he said in a tweet.

The US Secretary of State had commenced his five-day Asia trip, aimed at strengthening strategic ties in the region, in India before traveling to Sri Lanka and then the Maldives.

He will end his trip, which comes in the final week before the US presidential election, in Indonesia.