Pompeo seeks strong ties with SL, slams China

• We see from deals that violates sovereignty and lawlessness on land and sea-that the  Communist Party of China a predator

By Kelum Bandara

Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a strong, sovereign Sri Lanka was a powerful strategic partnership for the United States on the world stage, and it could be a beacon for free and open Indo-Pacific.  

Making his remarks to the media after bilateral engagement with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardane, he said the US approach is quite contrast to what China seeks. He even called the Communist Party of China (CPC) a predator.   

“We see from deals that violates sovereignty and lawlessness on land and sea-that the CPC a predator,” he said.   
He said his country seeks to strengthen partnership with democratic, peaceful, prosperous and fully sovereign Sri Lanka.   

Addressing a joint press conference, he underscored that the Sri Lankan garment factories undertook hundreds of orders to supply high quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the United States. He expressed gratitude for it and called it an act that saved the lives of Americans.   
 “President Donald Trump is working hard with the private sector to develop vaccines that beat this virus and benefit our people and the peoples of the entire world. We need the power of private industry to regain our economic footing now and in the future, we look forward to working with the people of Sri Lanka on that matter,” he said.  

We talked a lot about our security cooperation, economic relationship. Great American companies are here today. Brands like Coke, Oracle and IBM are creating high quality jobs. These American companies have been the most reliable partners on the planet. They are accountable to the law, transparent, and are assets to the communities in which they operate. Good governance, transparency and policy consistency will attract even more American investments. These are principles deeply consistent with Sri Lanka’s history, its heritage as the oldest democracy in Asia,” he said.    

• US seeks to strengthen partnership with democratic, peaceful, prosperous and fully sovereign Sri Lanka