Lanka, US discuss further promoting ties

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Harsha De Silva, following his visit to attend the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Summit in Mexico, visited Washington DC, with a view to further promoting United States-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, in particular on economic and business matters, the Foreign Ministry said today.

During his visit, Dr Harsha De Silva met senior officials of the US State Department, US Department of Treasury, US Department of Commerce, Office of Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as well as the World Bank.

During his discussions with US officials, Dr. Harsha De Silva emphasized the importance of further promoting economic and business relations with the United States in the light of path breaking transformation taking place in Sri Lanka in terms of political reforms and addressing accountability issues.

He discussed with US senior officials ways and means to achieve these objectives with the tools available and being designed by both countries.

Deputy Minister during his stay in Washington visited the newly opened Chancery building of the Embassy, becoming the first official visitor from Sri Lanka to visit the premises.

Addressing the staff on this occasion, Dr. Harsha De Silva, alluding to the policies of the Government, emphasized the need to further promote both political and economic relations with the United States for the benefit of the people of both countries. (Colombo Gazette)