Pathfinder and Asia Society co-host Sri Lanka – US dialogue  

The Pathfinder Foundation and the Asia Society Policy Institute, a leading policy think tank in the United States,  co-hosted a track two Sri Lanka-US dialogue, ahead of assuming of office of the Biden Administration. Former senior officials and representatives of civil society and the business community from both countries took part in the discussion, which was conducted on a virtual format.

 The dialog was expected to provide policymakers of the two countries with a better appreciation of the ground situation,  challenges, opportunities and priorities that  may affect the Sri Lanka – US  bilateral relationship.

 The US delegation was led by Robert O. Blake Jr., former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs under the Obama Adminstration and former Ambassador to Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Indonesia. The Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Bernard Goonetilleke, former Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to the United States.

 The conclusions reached at the discussion will be presented to the two governments for consideration