U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander visits Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 18 January 2008, 13:05 GMT]
Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Robert F. Willard, visited Sri Lanka on Thursday and Friday to meet Sri Lanka Navy leadership and the Sri Lankan President and Commander-in-Chief of the SL armed forces Mahinda Rajapaksa. He also visited Trincomalee to discuss "U.S. - Sri Lankan cooperation against LTTE terrorism," according to a press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo. Reaffirming the support of the United States to Sri Lanka in defending against terrorist activity through cooperation on maritime security, he noted that improvements in human rights protection could lead to enhanced cooperation, the press release added.

Full text of the press release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Colombo follows:

U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Visits Sri Lanka to Review Maritime Cooperation

Colombo, January 18, 2008: Admiral Robert F. Willard, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited Sri Lanka January 17-18 as part of a regional trip to south Asia to meet with his naval counterparts. Admiral Willard reviewed ongoing maritime cooperation, including naval training and exchanges, between the United States and Sri Lanka. In Colombo, he met with senior military officials and called on President Rajapaksa. In addition, he visited Trincomalee to discuss U.S.-Sri Lankan cooperation against LTTE terrorism. Admiral Willard reaffirmed the support of the United States to Sri Lanka in defending against terrorist activity through cooperation on maritime security. He noted that improvements in human rights protection could lead to enhanced cooperation.