US- Sri Lanka Defense Relations on a strong footing
Vikram Singh, the new U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia paid a courtesy call on Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States on Monday (13). They had an earnest discussion at the Embassy reflecting on the longstanding defense ties the two countries had for the last six decades.
Ambassador
Wickramasuriya and Deputy Assistant Secretary Singh concurred that relations
between two countries have deepened and grown across a broad range of areas
including in the sphere of defense cooperation over the years. It was
agreed that the time is opportune to build U.S. - Sri Lanka defense relations
on a stronger footing.
Ambassador
briefed Singh on Sri Lanka’s post-conflict security concerns and recent
economic and political developments. He underscored Sri Lanka’s
achievements in post-conflict scenario elaborating on programs nearing their
completion including demining, resettlement of IDPs, rehabilitation and
re-integration of ex combatants and the child soldiers. Singh was also briefed
on the progress of the reconciliation process including on the national action
plans introduced for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and to
implement the Recommendation of the LLRC.
Singh opined that the two countries can work together as partners sharing common security aims. Enhanced cooperation in countering terrorism and piracy, disaster response and humanitarian assistance, coordinated efforts towards securing free trade and commerce and sea lines of communications would be mutually beificial to the two countries, he averred.
Singh opined that the two countries can work together as partners sharing common security aims. Enhanced cooperation in countering terrorism and piracy, disaster response and humanitarian assistance, coordinated efforts towards securing free trade and commerce and sea lines of communications would be mutually beificial to the two countries, he averred.
Singh
serves as the principal advisor to the senior leadership in the U.S. Department
of Defense for all policy matters pertaining to development and implementation
of defense strategies and plans for the South and South Asian Regions. Prior to
his present appointment in April 2012, he served as a senior policy advisor for
Asian and Pacific security affairs in the Department.
Ambassador
Wickramasuriya congratulated Singh on his new assignment and wished him
success.
