Gotabaya says looking forward to working with US

• Responds to message from US Secretary of State, says focusing on mutually beneficial ties
• Pompeo focuses on free Indo-Pacific region, governance and reconciliation  

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took to twitter yesterday to reply US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo's congratulatory tweet, stating that Sri Lanka looks forward to fostering warm and mutually beneficial relations with the United States.

"I thank @SecPompeo for conveying the good wishes. #lka looks forward to fostering warm mutually beneficial relations with the #USA, including bilateral economic and trade ties between the two nations and increased inward investments," he said.

The US Embassy in Colombo released a full statement by the Secretary of State on its website, which called on President Rajapaksa to uphold Sri Lanka’s commitments to security sector reform, accountability, respect for human rights, and non-recurrence of violence.President...

While congratulating Sri Lankan's on a democratic election, Secretary Pompeo applaud the Sri Lankan Elections Commission, Sri Lankan civil society, and the candidates for promoting a peaceful election. The US stands ready to work with Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the new President of Sri Lanka, he said.

The top US diplomat called Sri Lanka a valued partner and reflected on the elections as one which was free, fair and transparent. Through the statement. the US expressed its wish to work with the government and people of Sri Lanka to advance cooperation on bilateral and regional issues, including fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific region where all countries can prosper, deepening good governance, and promoting justice, reconciliation, and human rights.