US vision of Lanka very different from ‘predator’ China: Pompeo

TIL Desk/World/Colombo/ America’s vision on Sri Lanka is “very different” from that of “predator” China, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in Colombo on Tuesday as he met the leadership in Colombo and reaffirmed US’ commitment to the island nation’s sovereignty and security.

Addressing a joint press conference with his Sri Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena after bilateral talks, the top US diplomat said that the US and Sri Lanka shared a democratic vision. “Indeed, a strong sovereign Sri Lanka is a positive partner on the world stage. It can be a beacon for a free Indo-Pacific.

“The Chinese Communist Party is a predator. The US comes in a different way, we come as a friend,” Pompeo said in response to a question. Pompeo, who became the Trump administration’s highest ranking official to visit Sri Lanka, said that the US and Sri Lanka shared a vision for democracy to build a relationship and the “freedom to hold democratic elections”.