Political reform agenda and economic agenda go hand in hand - Samantha Power

COLOMBO (News 1st); USAID Administrator Samantha Power told Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesighe that political reform agenda and the economic agenda go hand in hand.

She said that the United States trying to engage the business community to look at Sri Lanka now and to see the opportunities that exist here.

Power assured assistance of  $60 million in new assistance.

Administrator Samantha Power announced on Saturday (10) an additional $40 million in development assistance to help farmers purchase fertilizer and other vital agricultural inputs. On Sunday (11), she announced another $ 20 Million in emergency humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka.

“But compared to the challenges you face, that is very, very small and very modest. But we want to use our convening power to be catalytic as best we can, at the international financial institutions, with the private sector, with other countries that themselves are looking anew at Sri Lanka and thinking where to go,” she noted.

She also highlighted Sri Lanka’s vibrant private sector and said measures should be taken to unleash the potential of the private sector.

"You have such an incredible private sector, such entrepreneurship. But the government, over so many years has largely stood in the way of unlocking that potential instead of fueling it. Mangala used to say, as you know, government has no business running business. And you know what was done in the telecom sector? If that could be done in other sectors in an expeditious and transparent way, to unlock the potential of your people, it would be incredible,” reported the President's Media Division quoting the Administrator, and Former US Ambassador to the UN.

The visiting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Samantha Power said she conveys on behalf of President Biden that the stand with Sri Lank, during her meeting with President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

“We certainly are here to come together with you and to help take advantage of this rare window of opportunity. Also, for you to be able to make the kinds of changes that have been proposed for so long,” she added.