The US President Joe Biden’s nominee for Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Elizabeth K. Horst, says that if confirmed she will support members of "marginalized populations, accountability, truth and reconciliation, and transparency and justice in Sri Lanka".
Horst made the remarks appearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday. Her full statement can be found here.
Speaking further, she said she would focus on "three main pillars of the US - Sri Lanka relationship: broadening economic cooperation, bolstering security interests, and deepening our ties with Sri Lanka’s diverse and vibrant population".
She referred to Sri Lanka as a “resilient country,” adding that while the country is “still healing from a civil war that ended in 2009 and from the political and economic crises of 2022, Sri Lanka continues to make steady progress in the face of remarkable internal and external challenges.”
Furthermore, she mentioned Sri Lanka’s strategic significance in the Indian Ocean and its proximity to the global maritime lane. “Our partnership is crucial to addressing new security challenges and competitors, including countering transnational crime, enhancing maritime security, and responding to natural disasters,” said Horst. She added if that if confirmed she will reiterate the US commitment for a "free and open Indo-Pacific region".
If the appointment is confirmed, Horst will succeed the current US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung.
