US to provide Rs. 80 billion grant to Sri Lanka

Colombo (News1st): President Maithripala Sirisena who is currently in New York attended two events today that were held on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. President Maithripala attended the Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem as the first event of the UNGA week in New York. The event was chaired by US President Donald Trump. At the event, 130 countries reaffirmed their commitment to effectively address and counter the world drug problem. The United Nations General Debate commenced at the General Assembly with the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, marking the centenary of the birth of South Africa’s first democratically-elected President and global civil rights icon. Member States adopted a historic Political Declaration declaring 2019-2028 the “Nelson Mandela Decade of Peace,” and calling on all world leaders to “redouble efforts to pursue international peace and security, development and human rights”. President Maithripala Sirisena spoke before the state leaders at the event. Several other state leaders, diplomats, and activists spoke at the event including the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The United States has pledged to provide a Rs. 80 billion grant to Sri Lanka for several development projects. This was assured to President Maithripala Sirisena by the Chief Operation Officer of US Government owned Millennium Challenge Cooperation Brock Bierman when he called on the President on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.