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Take meaningful steps – US to SL

05 Jul 2014 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The United States yesterday called on the Sri Lankan Government to take meaningful, concrete steps to address outstanding concerns related to democratic governance, reconciliation, justice, and accountability.

Addressing an event held in Colombo to celebrate 238th anniversary of the Independence of the USA, Ambassador Michele J. Sison said US shared a positive vision for a unified, prosperous ‎Sri Lanka.

The Ambassador Sison assured that the United States would stand ready to assist Sri Lanka in facilitating progress on these issues.

She went on to say that the United States has worked through USAID to provide over 2 billion dollars in assistance to the Sri Lankan people since Sri Lanka’s independence.

“Today, USAID livelihoods projects and partnerships with the private sector have secured economic opportunities by creating thousands of jobs. These efforts are especially focused on vulnerable populations, in particular those households headed by women. USAID also supports the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and Legal Aid Commission to help ensure that all Sri Lankans have greater access to justice. In addition, the U.S. continues to provide support for the Sri Lankan people through humanitarian demining in the former conflict zones and through community reconciliation efforts,” Ms. Sison said.

Ms. Sison said, as a friend of Sri Lanka, the U.S. partnered in a variety of efforts to ensure that the bright young men and women of Sri Lanka’s next generation reached their full potential.

“On the education front, we have American scholars and teaching fellows at the Universities of Peradeniya, Jaffna, and Kelaniya. We are also teaching English to secondary school students all over the country: in Kandy, Polonnaruwa, Matara, Tissamaharama, Tangalle, Mullataivo, Killinocchchi, Mannar, Beruwela, Mathugama, Negumbo, and Batticaloa. We have established youth clubs that foster leadership and life skills for the next generation. We are proud of this investment in Sri Lanka’s youth. We believe that these young people will be key in cementing the relationship between our two countries in the years to come,” she said.

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Take meaningful steps – US to SL

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