Ambassador Wickramasuriya briefs US defence official on SL's post-conflict achievements

New U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia Vikram Singh paid a courtesy call on Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United States Jaliya Wickramasuriya on August 13. They had an earnest discussion at the embassy reflecting on the longstanding defense ties between the two countries over the last six decades.

Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya greets U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia Vikram Singh at the Sri Lankan embassy in Washington DC.

Ambassador Wickramasuriya and Deputy Assistant Secretary Singh concurred that relations between two countries have deepened and grown across a broad range of areas, including in the sphere of defense cooperation over the years. It was agreed that the time is opportune to build US - Sri Lanka defense relations on a stronger footing.

The ambassador briefed Singh on Sri Lanka's post-conflict security concerns and recent economic and political developments. He underscored Sri Lanka's achievements in post-conflict scenario elaborating on programmes nearing their completion, including demining, resettlement of IDPs, rehabilitation and re-integration of ex-combatants and child soldiers. Mr. Singh was also briefed on the progress of the reconciliation process, including on the national action plans introduced for the promotion and protection of Human Rights and to implement the Recommendation of the LLRC.

Singh opined that the two countries can work together as partners sharing common security aims. Enhanced cooperation in countering terrorism and piracy, disaster response and humanitarian assistance, coordinated efforts towards securing free trade and commerce and sea lines of communications would be mutually beneficial to the two countries were also discussed.

Vikram Singh serves as the principal advisor to the senior leadership in the US Department of Defence for all policy matters pertaining to development and implementation of defense strategies and plans for the South and South Asian Regions. Prior to his present appointment in April 2012, he served as a Senior Policy Advisor for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs in the Department.

Ambassador Wickramasuriya congratulated Singh on his new assignment and wished him success.