Security, economic development to feature in talks with Pompeo

Security, economic development and the technology sector cooperation will feature in bilateral discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today, Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said yesterday.

Mr. Pompeo arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday evening from New Delhi where he held bilateral talks with the Indian leaders. He was received by State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya and Foreign Secretary Jayanath Kolombage.

He will hold talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Mr. Gunawardane this morning. Afterwards, he will visit St. Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, which was damaged in the Easter Sunday attack.

Minister Gunawardane told Daily Mirror the Government would seek to strengthen bilateral ties with the United States during the visit.

“We will discuss a host of matters covering economic development, security and technology cooperation,” he said.

Besides, the Minister briefed the Cabinet on Monday about the visit. He said the US remained the single largest export market for Sri Lankan products.

Earlier, the State Department said Secretary Pompeo will travel to Colombo to underscore the commitment of the United States to a partnership with a strong, sovereign Sri Lanka and to advance common goals of a free and open-Indo pacific region.(Kelum Bandara)