US assumes Presidency of Colombo Plan Council

Saturday, 10 May 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Colombo Plan Council Incoming President US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung (left), addressing the special session held on 7 May, Secretary-General of the Colombo Plan Dr. Benjamin P. Reyes is also present

Colombo Plan Secretary-General Dr. Benjamin P. Reyes (left), and Colombo Plan Council Incoming President US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung (right) presenting a commemorative plaque to Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka Paitoon Mahapannapor (centre)

From left: High Commissioner of Bangladesh Andalib Elias, Ambassador of South Korea Miyon Lee, Ambassador of Vietnam Trinh Thi Tam, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia Dewi Gustina Tobing, Indonesia Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister for Multilateral Cooperation Tri Tharyat, Ambassador of United States of America Julie Chung, Ambassador of Thailand Paitoon Mahapannaporn, Colombo Plan Secretary-General Dr. Benjamin P. Reyes, High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Maj. Gen. Faheem Ul Aziz, Embassy of Japan Minister/ Deputy Chief of Mission Kamoshida Naoaki, High Commissioner of Maldives Masood Imad

The United States of America, represented by US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, assumed the Presidency of the Colombo Plan Council during a Special Session held on 7 May 2025.

The Presidency of the Council rotates annually among its 28 member States in alphabetical order. It was previously held by Thailand. The Colombo Plan Council comprises representatives from the diplomatic missions of member States based in Sri Lanka and convenes quarterly in Colombo. Since 2020, the members out of Colombo have been attending the meeting virtually.

The Special Session was attended by the outgoing President, Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka Paitoon Mahapannaporn, Deputy Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Arun Hemachandra, Deputy Minister for Multilateral Cooperation of Indonesia Tri Tharyat, along with eight Ambassadors and 15 Deputy Ambassadors representing 23 member countries.

The United States, the first non-Commonwealth country to join the Colombo Plan in 1951, supports Sri Lanka’s ports sector through the Colombo Plan, providing counternarcotic programming and technical assistance to enhance port security and operational capacity.

As the Colombo Plan Secretariat prepares to mark its 75th anniversary next year, it looks forward to the leadership of the new Council President in steering both the anniversary celebrations and shaping the future strategic direction of the organisation.

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