Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Moore, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Vikram Singh, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jane Zimmerman will travel to Sri Lanka and Maldives from January 26-February 1, the US embassy in Colombo said.

“In Sri Lanka they will meet with senior Sri Lankan officials, members of various political parties as well as civil society to discuss a wide range of issues, including progress in implementing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommendations and National Action Plan,” the embassy said.

It also said that, in Maldives they will meet government officials and members of political parties to continue support for a way forward that respects Maldivian democratic institutions, the rule of law, and the will of the Maldivian people in the run up to this year’s presidential elections.

James R. Moore is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs since September 2010. Mr. Moore was previously the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo from 2006 to 2009.

Jane B. Zimmerman is a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, responsible for South and Central Asia, the Western Hemisphere, and International Religious Freedom.

Vikram J. Singh is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs.  Mr. Singh serves as the principal advisor to senior leadership within the Department of Defense for all policy matters pertaining to development and implementation of defense strategies and plans for the region.