Sri Lanka explores trade, security ties at Montana Summit

By Sisira Wijesinghe in Washington DC.

Colombo, April 9 (Daily Mirror) - A Sri Lankan delegation led by Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe participated in the Montana Security and Economic Summit - 2026, engaging in wide-ranging discussions with U.S. counterparts on trade, investment, education and security cooperation.

The visit, undertaken at the invitation of Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and senior officials of the Montana National Guard, included meetings with government representatives, private sector leaders and academic institutions over four days.

Talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties, with particular emphasis on disaster preparedness, maritime and port security, and economic collaboration in sectors such as critical minerals and food security. The Governor and the Ambassador also highlighted the long-standing partnership between Sri Lanka and Montana, including support extended during disaster response efforts.

Discussions with the University of Montana and technical institutions explored academic cooperation, especially in disaster mitigation, flood management and wildfire analysis, while engagements with the World Trade Center Montana centered on expanding foreign direct investment and trade opportunities.

The delegation also held talks with private sector stakeholders across multiple industries, including mining, engineering, environmental management and aviation security.

Officials said the outcomes of the visit are expected to pave the way for enhanced cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United States in trade, investment and security, further strengthening bilateral relations.