Washington: America needs to build a constructive relationship with Sri Lanka, which is located at a strategic location in the heart of the Indian Ocean, a senior US diplomat nominated by the President Joe Biden As stated by his envoy to the island nation.
foreign service officer Julie Chung, during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, told members of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sri Lanka is situated at a strategic location in the heart of the Indian Ocean and its important ports play a vital role in a free and open, with access to global sea routes and trade routes. Indo-Pacific Architecture.
“This reinforces the need for the United States to build constructive relationships with Sri Lanka, including civil society, the private sector, and the people of Sri Lanka,” she said.
Chung told lawmakers that if ratified, she would work tirelessly to advocate for quality infrastructure and investments based on transparency, respect for international law and good governance, that is mindful of sustainable environmental and labor standards. .
“We must also support US companies doing business in Sri Lanka and use the Development Finance Corporation and the tools we have export-import bank To provide alternatives to coercive lending and opaque contracts,” she said without naming any country.
China is one of the largest investors in various infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. But it has drawn criticism locally and internationally, and there is growing concern that China has entrapped Sri Lanka in a debt trap.
East Maithripala Sirisena The government handed over the Hambantota port to a state-run Chinese firm in 2017 for a 99-year lease as a $1.2 billion loan swap.
US diplomat Chung said: “The sinking of the MV X-Press Pearl cargo ship off the coast of Colombo a few months ago, which caused its biggest maritime disaster in Sri Lanka’s history, points to the need to maintain such standards. Is”.
“US humanitarian assistance, emergency response capabilities and environmental monitoring tools helped Sri Lanka respond to this tragedy and are a symbol of how we can be a positive force and strong partner for the people of Sri Lanka,” he said. ”
He said Sri Lanka is Asia’s oldest democracy and survived the tragedy of a civil war that resulted in unimaginable violence and continued ethnic and religious divisions.
“If ratified, I am committed to speaking clearly and consistently in support of democratic values, human rights and a strong civil society that are essential to democracy and central to our foreign policy approach.
“We must also be strong partners in promoting justice, accountability and reconciliation so that all Sri Lankans can share in the benefits of peace, security and prosperity,” Chung said.
foreign service officer Julie Chung, during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, told members of Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sri Lanka is situated at a strategic location in the heart of the Indian Ocean and its important ports play a vital role in a free and open, with access to global sea routes and trade routes. Indo-Pacific Architecture.
“This reinforces the need for the United States to build constructive relationships with Sri Lanka, including civil society, the private sector, and the people of Sri Lanka,” she said.
Chung told lawmakers that if ratified, she would work tirelessly to advocate for quality infrastructure and investments based on transparency, respect for international law and good governance, that is mindful of sustainable environmental and labor standards. .
“We must also support US companies doing business in Sri Lanka and use the Development Finance Corporation and the tools we have export-import bank To provide alternatives to coercive lending and opaque contracts,” she said without naming any country.
China is one of the largest investors in various infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. But it has drawn criticism locally and internationally, and there is growing concern that China has entrapped Sri Lanka in a debt trap.
East Maithripala Sirisena The government handed over the Hambantota port to a state-run Chinese firm in 2017 for a 99-year lease as a $1.2 billion loan swap.
US diplomat Chung said: “The sinking of the MV X-Press Pearl cargo ship off the coast of Colombo a few months ago, which caused its biggest maritime disaster in Sri Lanka’s history, points to the need to maintain such standards. Is”.
“US humanitarian assistance, emergency response capabilities and environmental monitoring tools helped Sri Lanka respond to this tragedy and are a symbol of how we can be a positive force and strong partner for the people of Sri Lanka,” he said. ”
He said Sri Lanka is Asia’s oldest democracy and survived the tragedy of a civil war that resulted in unimaginable violence and continued ethnic and religious divisions.
“If ratified, I am committed to speaking clearly and consistently in support of democratic values, human rights and a strong civil society that are essential to democracy and central to our foreign policy approach.
“We must also be strong partners in promoting justice, accountability and reconciliation so that all Sri Lankans can share in the benefits of peace, security and prosperity,” Chung said.
.