The United States is working with Sri Lanka to meet urgent humanitarian needs in the island nation while supporting the country to to minimize the impact of current economic hardships among Sri Lankans
The United States Ambassador to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome, Cindy McCain, has focused attention on these humanitarian needs and possible US assistance to overcome the issue when she called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo yesterday for a wide-ranging discussion.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung had also participated in the meeting. Taking to twitter, Ambassador Chung said the meeting was held to discuss the impact of the ongoing economic hardships on Sri Lankans.
She said they also implored the many ways the United States and Sri Lanka are working together to meet urgent humanitarian needs.
Ambassador Cindy McCain had arrived in Sri Lanka earlier yesterday on a four-day official visit. In a tweet after arriving in the island, McCain said she is looking forward to seeing first-hand how US-funded assistance is supporting Sri Lankan communities and families in this challenging period.
The US Embassy in Colombo says Ambassador Cindy McCain is visiting Sri Lanka until September 28 to highlight U.S. food assistance programs in Sri Lanka and reinforce the U.S. commitment and lasting partnership with the island nation.
. Since June, Ambassador Chung has overseen the announcement of nearly US$240 million in new U.S. government assistance to Sri Lanka.
This financial assistance included U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power’s September 2022 announcements of an additional $40 million to provide Sri Lankan farmers with fertilizer and $20 million to meet immediate humanitarian needs in the country.
In addition to meeting with senior government officials and aid organizations in Colombo, Ambassador McCain will join U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung to travel to Central Province to visit schools, agricultural research facilities, and community organizations.
She will meet with recipients and implementers of relief provided through U.S. government-funded humanitarian assistance programs.
