US encourages ‘continued progress on human rights and reconciliation in Sri Lanka’

COLOMBO: US Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper has “discussed cooperation in responding to COVID-19 and the international security environment” in a telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“We look to deepen CT & maritime security cooperation, and I encouraged continued progress on human rights & reconciliation,” Esper (@EsperDoD) added in a Twitter post on Monday.

For his part, the President thanked the US official for the “warm wishes in electoral victory and management of COVID-19.”

“Discussion on cooperation with Indian Ocean & neighbor relations, defense, military2military linkages & Counterterrorism, whilst strengthening bilateral relations was very assuring,” the President (@GotabayaR) added in a Twitter post.