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High level talks with the US underway: Govt.

06 Oct 2014 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The External Affairs Ministry today said the Sri Lankan Government had not made an official statement on the meeting which took place between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the US State Secretary in New York and that the government, however, appreciated the beginning of a high level dialogue between the two countries.

Referring to the media reports of the US denying softening of its stance towards Sri Lanka, the Ministry issued a statement to clarify the issue.

The Full Statement:

Comments at the daily press briefing of the US Department of State made by its Spokesperson on 2nd October 2014, with regard to a report from a Sri Lanka newspaper stating that the “US stance on Sri Lanka softens”, have been noted.

In this context, the Ministry of External Affairs wishes to clarify that the Government of Sri Lanka did not issue a press statement or comment on the meeting which took place between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the US Secretary of State John Kerry on the margins of UN General Assembly sessions.

Any reference in the media to the contents of this discussion are of a speculative nature and does not in any way reflect the view of the Government of Sri Lanka. In fact, reference to this meeting has been published in the schedule of State Secretary Kerry, which is in the public domain.

“The Government of Sri Lanka however, appreciates this meeting having taken place, as a dialogue has now begun at high level, which befits the importance attached to this bilateral relationship and for its further strengthening.

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