New US Ambassador to SL nominated

27 March 2015 04:22 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Barack Obama has nominated an Indian-American, a former official at its Embassy in New Delhi, as the next US ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Obama yesterday announced the nomination of Atul Keshap, a career foreign service official, as the next US ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives along with Alaina Teplitz as the next ambassador to Nepal.

While announcing their nominations, Obama said, "I am honored that these talented individuals have decided to serve our country. They bring their years of experience and expertise to this Administration, and I look forward to working with them".

Keshap is currently serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau of the State Department.

As his current role, Keshap had worked closely with Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal to coordinate US policy toward India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan, comprising a diverse and strategic region of almost 1.5 billion people and over USD 2 trillion in economic output.

Previously, he served at the Department of State as a US Senior Official for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2012 to 2013.

From 2010 to 2012, he was the Director for India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

Prior to that, Keshap was Director for United Nations Human Rights in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs from 2008 to 2010 and Deputy Political Counselor at the US Embassy in New Delhi from 2005 to 2008.

He had also served as Director for Near Eastern and North African Affairs in the National Security Council from 2003 to 2004 and as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs from 2002 to 2003.

Keshap, a graduate of University of Virginia, studied Economics, International Relations, Diplomacy, and Religious Studies, as well as French. He has working proficiency in French and speaks conversational Hindi and some Vietnamese.(Indian Express)

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Comments - 15

Fair N Square Friday, 27 March 2015 10:05 AM

smart play by Obama.. let Asians deal with each other...Kespal, Nisha ..interesting, coz they all have it inthem to fight it out amongst them...

Ane munta Friday, 27 March 2015 10:42 AM

They want to please certain nations because they are scared of China

koli kuttuwa Friday, 27 March 2015 11:07 AM

More Indians mean more hate. Even we love Aussi over Indians

Deen Friday, 27 March 2015 11:11 AM

Hope not Another Indian Ambassador.

ranga Friday, 27 March 2015 11:17 AM

I thought our Foreign Minister was the new US ambassador... Is he not...

cheers Friday, 27 March 2015 12:05 PM

This is to the advantage of USA as they can benefit pleasing india and indians but not classy sri lankans Obama got his facts wrong

pras Friday, 27 March 2015 12:28 PM

my main question is in such a small nation why did they want MR out Why is USIndia pampering us so much now. why are they so happy. are we so naive to think they like us why was my3 rathana patali n etc paid heafty amounts to switch my fellow countrymen look at da bigger pic. i dont say MR was good but this is worse. china never interfere with our governance but see wat india n US are doing now God save SL. via DM Android App

amabsador Friday, 27 March 2015 02:09 PM

We do not need indians in this country to be as USa ambassador

Cheers Friday, 27 March 2015 02:45 PM

Cow boys and Indians

Anon69 Friday, 27 March 2015 07:11 PM

Yeah We are the Pepole of USA is very scared of China. We spen USD 690 billon on defense, China USD 180 billion. So naturally we are scared.

Dalu Banda Friday, 27 March 2015 07:55 PM

In agriculture, important aspects such as quality and productivity have drastically increased by cloning. I hope the same theory is applied to the human being also.

anton Friday, 27 March 2015 11:42 PM

In srilanka even the brother of his excellency was attacked what will be state of a ordinary man..

TONY Friday, 27 March 2015 11:50 PM

INDIANS WILL CREATE PROBLEMS TO US

Mevan Saturday, 28 March 2015 12:40 AM

Looks like Obama does not appoint actors , proctors and every other Hector as diplomats like tbey did in.SL during Rajapaksha govt.

Fair N Square Saturday, 28 March 2015 01:16 AM

well WE have NO say... teh Ambassador is chosen NOT by us, but by the US president, but has to be approved by the Senate...

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New US Ambassador to SL nominated

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