Ambassador Wickramasuriya Congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama

Philip FERNANDO

Sri Lankan Ambassador in the US Jaliya Wickramasuriya sending a congratulatory massage to senator Barack Obama wished him success as new US President elect.

Obama and Wickramasuriya met during the election campaign and exchanged greetings. The meeting was very cordial. Sri Lankans in very large numbers followed the campaign of Obama as he criss-crossed USA for 21 months.

It was during one of those campaign trips that Obama met the Sri Lankan envoy. The number of Sri Lankans who participated in Obama's campaign was also quite high.

There was great interest shown by Sri Lankan supporters after a news report mentioned that Obama had shown some interest in the anti-terror war in Sri Lanka during one of his speeches. Some objected to his using the word "civil war.' Many Sri Lankans wrote to Obama about it.

Sri Lankan embassy is expected to work closely with President Obama in 2009. Trade, investment and education are some of the areas where Sri Lanka-America relationship excels.

The appointment of a new Secretary of State by Obama is eagerly looked forward to by the Sri Lankans. The level of aid promised but not delivered by the Bush administration needs to be looked into according to most observers.

The assistance promised to countries facing terrorist threats had not materialised during the past. That is a topic that also needs appraisal according to most observers.