General

Julie Chung, the outgoing United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, has thanked everyone who contributed to strengthening the ties between the U.S. and Sri Lanka during her nearly four years in the country. She also praised the people of Sri Lanka for their resilience and determination. In her farewell message shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ambassador Chung talked about the progress made in U.S.–Sri Lanka relations during her time in office. “It has been a privilege to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka these last four years. As I get ready to leave, I am thankful to everyone who helped advance the U.S.–Sri Lanka relationship while I was here,” she said. In her statement, she reflected on important areas of cooperation. “With Sri Lankans from all over the country, we improved security cooperation, grew economic ties, and built a partnership that benefits both the United States and Sri Lanka,” she added. She emphasized that the relationship, “based on our shared history and democratic values, will continue to be important in the Indo-Pacific.” Ambassador Chung, who arrived in 2022, noted that she saw Sri Lanka dealing with a major economic and political crisis. She commended the strength and determination of the Sri Lankan people during this challenging time, stating that the United States was there to support stability, recovery, and the growth of a stronger partnership. “Being an ambassador here has been one of the greatest honors and blessings of my life,” she concluded.