So much at stake, US warns Sri Lanka

There may be consequences for current and future defence and security projects between Sri Lanka and the United States if the Sri Lankan government does not uphold the law and democratic principles, the US Embassy said.

In August, the US State Department announced it would provide $39 million – pending Congressional approval – to the Sri Lankan military. The funding comes as a part of a broader initiative to strengthen security relationships with south and south-east Asian states. The funding is designed to enhance maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, peacekeeping capabilities and countering transnational crime capabilities in these countries.

The US also handed over an ex-US Coast Guard cutter to the Sri Lanka Navy in August. Once recommissioned, the 115m vessel would be the largest ship in the Lankan fleet.

“This is obviously a critical time for the country and the United States is paying acute attention to unfolding events,” US Embassy spokesperson David J. McGuire said.

“With regard to ongoing or future projects and funding, we do not want to prejudge how the current political situation may be resolved and it is too soon to speculate on what consequences may come as a result. “There is so much at stake,” he continued. “Sri Lanka has made great gains in terms of security, prosperity, and reconciliation. The US will continue to urge President Sirisena to reconvene parliament immediately to allow the democratically elected representatives of the Sri Lankan people to fulfill their responsibility to affirm who will lead their government.”

Separately, the US Embassy in Colombo said firmly: “President Sirisena's decision to dissolve the parliament poses a vital threat to Sri Lanka’s democratic institutions.” The US State Department also tweeted deep concern “as a committed partner of Sri Lanka” after parliament was dissolved.

The US has actively engaged with Sri Lanka on security and military collaboration since the end of the civil war in 2009. The US, Japan and Australia have increased their military diplomacy with Sri Lanka.

Along with India, they have all expressed concern regarding Chinese investment into Sri Lankan strategic infrastructure, especially the maritime infrastructure such as Hambantota Port.

The government of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had issued assurances that Sri Lanka would remain neutral.

US foreign policy towards Sri Lanka considerably improved from January 2015, with more direct military-to-military exercises, exchanges and training programs. The US Marine Corps played an instrumental role in the genesis of the Sri Lankan Navy Marine Battalion last year.

The participation of senior US, Japanese and Australian military leadership at key Sri Lankan defence and security seminars during the last two months underscores the importance the countries have placed on ties with Sri Lanka.