US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Liz Allen is travelling to Jordan, Sri Lanka, and India from February 12-22.
The visit underscores the United States’ unwavering commitment to reinforcing and expanding partnerships and alliances. The trip highlights the core of US foreign policy and public diplomacy initiatives: fostering freedom of expression, economic empowerment, and global collaboration.
Under Secretary Allen will travel to Colombo to reaffirm US support for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Her agenda includes fostering dialogue on freedom of expression and democratic values with diverse groups of stakeholders, including journalists, civil society members, Government officials, and the Embassy’s Youth Forum.
Her engagements with the Sri Lanka Press Institute, US public diplomacy program alumni, and local content creators will emphasise the critical role of preserving diverse voices for a stable and inclusive Sri Lanka. She will meet representatives from Sri Lanka’s multi-faith community to underscore the importance of societal inclusivity. Senior American diplomat Richard Verma will embark on a six-day official visit to India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives next week to strengthen the US’ bilateral ties with the key Indo-Pacific partners and reaffirm its enduring commitment to a free, open, secure, and prosperous region.
Verma, the US’ Indian-American Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, the second senior post in the State Department, will travel to the three countries from February 18-23.
“Shortly following the two-year anniversary of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, his trip will reaffirm the United States’ enduring commitment to a free, open, secure, and prosperous region,” a media release said on Friday.
Verma will conclude his trip in Colombo. His meetings with senior officials will support US-Sri Lankan defence and maritime security cooperation.
He will visit the Port of Colombo’s West Container Terminal (WCT), where the United States is supporting Sri Lanka’s ongoing economic recovery through US$ 553 million in financing to transform Colombo into a regional shipping hub.
He will meet civil society leaders to hear their perspective on democratic governance in Sri Lanka and with Government officials to voice US support for free speech.
