US envoy nominee for SL flags China concerns, backs Sri Lanka reforms

American President Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to Sri Lanka told lawmakers that Washington will prioritise maritime security, economic reforms and countering China’s growing footprint in the Indian Ocean nation, as Sri Lanka seeks recovery from its 2022 economic crisis and a devastating cyclone this year. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, nominee Eric Meyer said Sri Lanka’s strategic location along major global shipping lanes makes it central to US efforts to promote “a free and open Indo-Pacific” and to counter “adversarial influences, including China’s growing presence in the region.” “Sri Lanka sits astride some of the world’s…

Read the full article →