Dr. Paul Kapur, the United States Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat today (22), reaffirming Washington's commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Sri Lanka.
According to the President's Media Division (PMD), both sides reflected on the 77-year relationship between the two countries, highlighting cooperation in trade, defence, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties.
Assistant Secretary Kapur expressed satisfaction with the existing partnership and reiterated the US commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation.
The meeting also covered developments in the Middle East, with both sides expressing optimism that the peace agreement reached on June 19 would contribute to lasting regional stability.
President Dissanayake noted Sri Lanka's humanitarian assistance to two vessels that encountered difficulties near Sri Lankan waters in March this year, a move that was commended by the US official. The President also reaffirmed Sri Lanka's commitment to supporting peace and stability in the region.
Trade relations were another key focus of the discussions. The President noted that while the United States remains Sri Lanka's largest export market, narrowing the trade gap between the two countries would be challenging given the difference in the size of their economies. Both sides also stressed the importance of concluding matters relating to the bilateral trade agreement as early as possible.
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