Top US defence official on a review visit to Colombo

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 January 2005, 10:22 GMT]
Deputy Defence Secretary of the United States of America, Paul Wolfowitz is scheduled to arrive in Colombo Monday morning on a short review visit to meet Sri Lankan government officials and tour to tsunami-affected areas in the Southern Galle district.

A statement from the US embassy in Colombo said that the visiting deputy Defence Secretary during his tour to Galle, where the US Marines are engaged in clearing the rubbles, would consult with US military commanders with regard to the relief operation in Sri Lanka

Mr. Wolfowitz, who will be accompanied by Admiral Thomas Fargo, Commander of the US Pacific Command, is also scheduled to meet the press on Monday before leaving the Colombo.

War ships and naval troops from various countries such as India, the UK, the US and Pakistan are harboured in the southern port Galle following the tsunami attack on December 26.