Cindy McCain visited the island for four days. She met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and inspected agricultural development projects. Washington also donated a ship to the Sri Lankan Navy. Tamil MPs demanded justice for the atrocities committed during the civil war.
Colombo () – Ambassador Cindy McCain, permanent representative of the United States to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO) in Rome, closed a four-day visit to Sri Lanka today. The aim is to emphasize US food aid programs and strengthen the partnership between the US and Sri Lanka.
Several analysts and senior government officials consulted by They said Ambassador McCain’s mission is a “huge boost for the debt-ridden, economic crisis-ridden island nation.”
During her visit to the central province, McCain was accompanied by the US ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung. Together they visited schools, agricultural research centers, community organizations, and met with beneficiaries of US government-funded programs.
After visiting Revatha Primary School in Haggamuwa to inspect a US-funded FAO project, McCain stressed that “we are not only giving them the seeds for agriculture, but also the tools to support themselves and their families for years to come.
McCain then met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and highlighted the “long-standing US commitment to the people of Sri Lanka” and “assessing humanitarian needs, supporting long-term strategies to promote security food of all Sri Lankans”.
The US envoy stressed the need to revive the agricultural sector, devastated by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to ban chemical fertilizers, a measure that aggravated food shortages.
The United States continues to maintain close ties with the island, not only by providing aid: Earlier this month, Washington also handed over a ship to the Sri Lankan Navy. Last week, US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland had reiterated to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry Washington’s continued support in overcoming the current economic crisis.
The meeting with Nuland followed that of USAid (US Agency for International Development) Administrator Samantha Power, who visited Sri Lanka earlier this month. On that occasion she met with President Wickremasinghe and representatives of the opposition to discuss the governance of the country. During the meeting, Tamil National Alliance MP MA Sumanthiran told Power that “Sri Lanka’s situation is currently being discussed at the UN Human Rights Council where a resolution on responsibilities for mass atrocities will be adopted. ” committed against the Tamil ethnic group during the civil war. Sumanthiran added that “those responsible must be brought to account at UNHCR and elsewhere.”
