Blake to visit Lanka, Maldives

New Delhi: March 20, 2010 :: US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake addressing the delegates during the 20th Asian Corporate Conference organised by CII, in New Delhi on March 20, 2010. Photo: Rajeev Bhatt

With an aim to strengthen bilateral ties with Sri Lanka and Maldives, a top U.S. State Department official will visit both the nations in coming two days and will hold a range of consultations with the government representatives there.

Robert Blake will kick off his first visit to Sri Lanka and Maldives as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia tomorrow, a State Department statement said.

Mr. Blake, who earlier served as the U.S. Ambassador to both the countries, would be in Sri Lanka tomorrow and will visit Maldives on July 22.

In Sri Lanka, Mr. Blake will have consultations with the government officials, political parties, business leaders and civil society, the statement said.

While in Maldives, he plans to meet government officials, members of opposition parties, civil society representatives, anti-trafficking activists and religious leaders.