Joint Statement from the Fifth Session of the United States-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue

July 12, 2024

The following statement is released by the Governments of the United States and Sri Lanka on the occasion of the Fifth United States-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue held on July 12 in Washington, D.C.

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The United States and Sri Lanka convened the Fifth U.S.-Sri Lanka Partnership Dialogue on July 12, 2024, in Washington, D.C. to express their shared commitment to economic prosperity, security cooperation, sustainable development, democracy and human rights, and people-to-people exchanges.  The meeting was co-chaired by Acting Under Secretary for Political Affairs of the U.S. Department of State John Bass and Foreign Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka Aruni Wijewardane.  The United States and Sri Lanka reaffirmed their commitment to the bilateral relationship, firmly rooted in upholding shared democratic values and respect for national sovereignty, and expressed a desire to further strengthen the partnership.

The United States welcomed the signs of economic stabilization in Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka’s steadfast commitment to the IMF program and reforms, which will lay the groundwork for recovery, financial governance, and future growth.  Sri Lanka expressed its sincere appreciation for U.S. economic assistance during the past crisis, totaling more than a quarter-billion dollars.  The United States continues to support Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring and economic and governance reform agenda to promote sustainable growth.