US Embassy in Colombo: No policy shift on ‘Sri Lanka’ engagement

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 February 2020, 23:19 GMT]
Colombo-based News 1st quoted the US Embassy as clarifying that there were no additional restrictions on US military engagement with the SL State, other than the public designation on SL Army Commander Lt Gen Shavendra Silva announced on Friday. There was no curtailing of US military assistance to Colombo, the news report said. The designation didn't represent a shift in policy, the report said.

“The announcement of the designation does not place additional restrictions on security assistance or military engagement in Sri Lanka, nor does it represent a shift in policy or desire to limit engagement more broadly with the government and people of Sri Lanka,” News 1st quoated US Embassy as responding.

The initial announcement by the US State Department also gave the same interpretation on Friday.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted that his country remained committed to “strengthening the bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka and helping reshape its security forces to tackle current and emerging threats.”

The announcement also said that “security cooperation” would continue to emphasize respect for human rights as a fundamental component of training, assistance, and engagements.

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