Statement by US-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A statement from the third United States - Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue was released today (May 18). The third meeting of the U.S.- Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Tilak Marapana on May 16, 2019, in Washington DC. The release said the signature for the approval of a $480-million compact by the Millennium Challenge Corporation Board is pending congressional approval in the United States and Cabinet approval in Sri Lanka. The United States and Sri Lanka resolved to work together to foster peace and security and ensure a safe maritime domain in the Indian and Pacific Oceans through a rules-based order that ensures respect for international laws and norms. The release added that in this context, the U.S. strategy towards a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, which ensures freedom of navigation, overflight, and unimpeded commerce was acknowledged as an important initiative.