Top American Diplomat to Travel to Maldives, Sri Lanka

Washington, Oct 8 (PTI) In a significant development, the United States State Department announced that it is sending one of its top diplomats to Maldives and Sri Lanka.

During her three-day trip from October 9 to 11, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells, will reiterate the strong US commitment to its partnerships with Sri Lanka and Maldives and their shared interests in a prosperous and open Indo-Pacific region, an official statement said Sunday.

In Malé, Wells will meet with Maldivian government officials, the President-Elect, and civil society leaders.

"She will offer congratulations on the country's successful national elections and convey US interest in expanding bilateral cooperation," the State Department said in a statement.

In Colombo, Wells will meet with Sri Lankan officials and will emphasise the importance of the US-Sri Lanka relationship to shared Indo-Pacific goals, with the growing bilateral defense relationship as an area of particular promise.

"She will also urge continued progress on constitutional reform, human rights, reconciliation, and transitional justice and accountability," the State Department said.

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