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Top US official delivers letter to GR from Trump

14 Jan, 2020

By Easwaran Rutnam

A visiting top US official today delivered a letter from US President Donald Trump to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Alice G. Wells. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs delivered the letter during talks with President Rajapaksa today.

The letter underscored the commitment and interests by the US to further its partnership with Sri Lanka.

She told a group of journalists before leaving Sri Lanka that she discussed matters related to the Millennium Challenge Corporation deal (MCC), reconciliation, human rights and regional issues.

Wells said that in her meetings with the Government, opposition and civil society she spoke about the importance of strengthening democratic institutions.

On the MCC deal, Wells said that the US respects Sri Lanka’s decision to appoint a committee to study the proposed agreement and will await the outcome of that process.

“We welcome a fact based discussion on the merits of the MCC,” she said in response to a question raised by the Colombo Gazette.

Wells also emphasised that the US supports Sri Lanka having relations with any country.

However, she noted US concerns on Chinese investments in Sri Lanka. (Colombo Gazette)

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