Jun 30, 2020 (LBO) – Sri Lanka's Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has engaged in a discussion on the review report of the MCC among other matters in a telephone conversation on 29 June evening.
US-Sri Lanka cooperation in COVID response-supply of PPEs to the US, donation of ventilators to Sri Lanka and COVID related bilateral assistance amounting to US$ 5.8 million- economic recovery initiatives, defence and security matters, counter-terrorism and international economic cooperation featured in the discussions, the Ministry of Foreign Relations said in a statement.
Minister Gunawardena has briefed his US counterpart on the Review Report of the MCC, the forthcoming Parliamentary elections, and thanked the US for the support extended to the reconciliation and resettlement processes in Sri Lanka. He has conveyed Sri Lanka’s felicitations for the forthcoming US Independence Day on the 4th of July.
However, the US State Department is silent about the discussion on the MCC review report and forthcoming Parliamentary elections.
Media-ReleaseThe below is attributable to US State Department's Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus:
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to reaffirm our partnership with the people of Sri Lanka and our commitment to supporting the country’s development and sovereignty. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Gunawardena discussed our mutual interest in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic and shared commitment to economic stability and sustainable growth. The two leaders also discussed the United States’ ongoing COVID-19 assistance to Sri Lanka, which totals almost $6 million to date, and reviewed the longstanding U.S.-Sri Lankan cooperation on health and humanitarian issues. Additionally, the Secretary and the Foreign Minister talked about our shared democratic traditions, respect for human rights, and the importance of transparency for the long-term stability and prosperity of our people.