US delegation to visit economic crisis-hit Sri Lanka from today

COLOMBO: A high-level US delegation to visit Sri Lanka will arrive on Sunday to hold talks with the country’s top leadership to help it resolve the economic crisis as the island nation, which is on the brink of bankruptcy, is struggling to pay for the import of essentials, including food and fuel.

Sri Lanka is facing a severe forex crisis which forced the island nation to declare a default on its international debt in April, becoming the first Asia-Pacific country in decades to default on foreign debt.

The delegation representing the US Department of the Treasury and the Department of State is due to engage in a visit to Sri Lanka from June 26 to 29, the News First newspaper reported.

The delegation will include Robert Kaproth, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Treasury for Asia, and Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, it said.

The visitors will meet with a wide range of political representatives, economists and international organisations, and will explore the most effective ways for the US to support Sri

Lankans in need, Sri Lankans working to resolve the current economic crisis, and Sri Lankans planning for a sustainable and inclusive economy for the future, the report said.

“This visit underscores our ongoing commitment to the security and prosperity of the Sri Lankan people,” US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said.

“As Sri Lankans endure some of the greatest economic challenges in their history, our efforts to support economic growth and strengthen democratic institutions have never been more critical,” the envoy said.