U.S. to assist Sri Lanka in reform process: secretary of state

The United States will provide technical assistance to Sri Lanka in its reform process and send teams to visit Sri Lanka in this regard, said visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry here Saturday.

The remarks were made after Kerry's meeting with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera in the capital Colombo.

The visiting U.S. Secretary of State is currently in the island nation on a two-day state visit to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government and political leaders, making him the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Sri Lanka in 43 years.

Addressing a media in a joint statement with Samaraweera, Kerry said that he had pledged to the foreign minister that the United States wants to work with Sri Lanka and help in anyway to shape the future according to what the people of Sri Lanka want.

He also noted that the island nation had shown progress in several areas over the past few months, including on creating a more accountable governance.

"This is a time of opportunity for Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka today many of us see a moment of extraordinary promise," he said, adding that the new government has backed its words with actions.

Kerry further said that Sri Lanka has many challenges before it, but he also noted that the government was not afraid to tackle tough issues. He further noted that the United States intends to broaden and deepen its partnership with the island nation.

The Sri Lankan government, in the meantime, assured the United States that it will address the issues related to accountability over human rights abuses alleged to have taken place during the war.

The foreign minister said he believes the discussions Kerry will have in Sri Lanka will provide an opportunity for both sides to understand their respective priorities and that the discussions will also heighten the existing close and friendly relations shared between the two nations. Endi