US hails Sri Lanka's 100 days agenda

Colombo, Feb 3: The US said that despite some difficult challenges ahead for Sri Lanka, the new government has put forward an ambitious agenda for their first 100 days, the Sri Lankan president's office said Tuesday.

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal made the comments while meeting Sri Lanka's newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Monday, Xinhua reported.

Biswal is currently on a two-day visit to the island nation, aimed at establishing ties with the new Sri Lankan government, which came to power following the January 8 presidential election.

"President Sirisena and PM Wickremasinghe have put forth an ambitious agenda for their first 100 days and much has already been accomplished in such a short time," Biswal said.

"Sri Lanka can count on the US to be a partner and a friend in the way forward. Whether it is on rebuilding the economy, on preventing corruption and advancing good governance, and ensuring human rights and democratic participation for all of its citizens," Biswal added.

She further said that the US is looking forward to deepening the ties between the two countries and make advances in trade and investments.

In an effort to boost ties between the two countries, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who met Biswal in Colombo on Monday, said that he will be travelling to Washington next week for talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

IANS