Sri Lanka has appointed new ambassadors to the United States and China, in moves expected to further strengthen the country’s diplomatic and economic relations with the two major powers.
Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Chinese Ambassador, Wei Huaxiang, has arrived in the country. He said it was a great honour to serve in a country with an ancient history and natural beauty such as Sri Lanka.
He also pledged to further strengthen bilateral relations under the Belt and Road Initiative and work for the welfare of Chinese nationals and institutions operating in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s newly appointed US Ambassador, Eric Meyer, has formally taken the oath of office at the US Department of State in Washington, D.C. Meyer is a senior diplomat with years of experience in South and Central Asian affairs and is expected to arrive in Colombo in the coming days.
Amid these diplomatic appointments, Kosala Wickramanayake, Secretary-General of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce (Sri Lanka), has written to the President and the Foreign Minister stressing the importance of appointing commercially capable individuals to the ambassadorial posts.
He pointed out that the United States is Sri Lanka’s largest export market, while China is its second-largest economic partner and a key partner in the country’s debt restructuring process.
He stressed that the new ambassadors should not be limited to ceremonial diplomatic duties, but should also have the commercial capabilities needed to secure beneficial trade opportunities and attract investment to Sri Lanka.
