US envoys in key talks with Lanka agriculture minister

COLOMBO: US Permanent Representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies in Rome, Ambassador Cindy McCain and US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung said they have had a productive conversation with Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.

In a tweet, McCain said, with USD 40 million in US assistance to the UN agency Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), farmers in Sri Lanka will be able to use fertilizer to revitalize vital agricultural production.

The development assistance of USD 40 million was pledged by Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power during her recent visit to Sri Lanka earlier this month, to help farmers purchase fertilizer and other vital agricultural inputs.

During the meeting with Minister Amaraweera, Ambassadors Chung and McCain also reiterated the commitment of the US to work with the government of Sri Lanka towards strengthening the country’s economy while also addressing urgent humanitarian needs for the most vulnerable communities.