Foreign Minister Sabry concludes successful visit to US boosting bilateral ties

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry meeting with Department of State Undersecretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Ambassador Uzra Zeya (right), State Department Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Afreen Akhter (second from left) and Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe

Foreign Affairs Minister M.U.M. Ali Sabry paid an official visit to Washington DC from 30 November to 2 December. 

He was in the US capital to meet with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. They held productive discussions at the Department of State on Friday (2), focused on further elevating Sri Lanka-US relations in diverse spheres, including the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations which will be marked in 2023.

In addition to the meeting with Secretary Blinken, the Embassy of Sri Lanka to the US facilitated further interactions during the visit which included meetings with key US interlocutors including political leaders from both the House of Representatives and the Senate representing both major parties and high officials of the State Department. 

Minister Ali Sabry met with a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Bill Hagerty, (Republican – Tennessee). He had talks with members of Congress Rep. Bill Johnson (Republican – Ohio), Co-Chair of the Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat – Illinois) who has shown an interest in Sri Lanka.

The Minister also had a meeting with Administrator, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power and expressed his appreciation of USAID for their generous support to Sri Lanka. He met with Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Ambassador Uzra Zeya, who was accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the Department of State Afreen Akhter.

The Ambassador of Sri Lanka in United States Mahinda Samarasinghe along with diplomatic officers of the Embassy of Sri Lanka and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also associated with the Foreign Minister at the meetings. 

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry meeting US Congressman Bill Johnson

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry meeting USAID Administrator Samantha Power along with Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry meeting with US Senator Bill Hagerty

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry meeting with USAID Administrator Samantha Power