United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Saturday praised the Sri Lankan leadership for its commitment to “constitutional and democratic reforms.” Mr Kerry, who arrived here a few days after the Sri Lankan Parliament adopted the 19th Constitutional Amendment, told journalists at the office of the Foreign Affairs Ministry here that what impressed him the most was the “readiness of this government to open its doors and open its mind to different ideas.” President Maithirpala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe and Foreign Minister Mangala Samarweera were “wiling to make difficult decisions” and were committed to “keeping their promises.”
Announcing that the two countries agreed to establish an annual partnership dialogue, the Secretary of State said a team of officials of the US Departments of Treasury and Commerce would soon come to Sri Lanka to work with the Sri Lankan government on economic measures to be taken to provide “greater investment and greater growth.”
Mr. Samaraweera, who earlier referred to the passage of the 19th Constitutional Amendment, said his country was “well on its way to becoming a fully-fledged Parliamentary democracy, laying the foundations for a new Sri Lanka, built on the pillars of democracy and ethnic harmony.” He pointed out that “ensuring accountability in the new Sri Lanka will feature as a key component of the reconciliation process.”
Expressing his government’s keenness on making the country an “investor’s paradise,” he said steps were underway to cultivate a “rule based investment climate.” He hoped that American investors would take advantage of the many new economic opportunities emerging in the country. Later, Mr. Kerry met Mr. Wickremasinghe.
Great to sit down and talk with FM >@MangalaLK again. Good follow-up to our last meeting >@StateDept back in February. >pic.twitter.com/MB9TquKndv
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) >May 2, 2015
