U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, H.E Julie Chung, met with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, at the Parliamentary premises recently.
H.E Julie Chung expressed her warm congratulations to the Speaker. In addition, the Speaker extended his felicitations to the newly elected President of the United States. She also welcomed the revival of the Sri Lanka – United States of America Parliamentary Friendship Association in the Tenth Parliament, emphasizing its importance in strengthening bilateral ties.
During the discussion, Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne expressed his deep appreciation for the United States' steadfast support during critical times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Sri Lanka’s recent economic challenges. He acknowledged the U.S. government’s continued assistance to the Parliament and highlighted the importance of furthering cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Chung emphasized the shared democratic values between the United States and Sri Lanka. She noted the potential for deeper collaboration through initiatives such as the Open Government Partnership, which fosters transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in governance. The Ambassador also commended the notable increase in women representation within the Parliament of Sri Lanka and reiterated U.S. support for the Women Parliamentarians' Caucus.
Further discussions focused on topics such as deepen parliamentary collaboration, enhance institutional capacities, and exchange best practices to strengthen democratic governance.
The Secretary General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, was also present on the occasion.
