US President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to Sri Lanka has told lawmakers that Washington will focus on maritime security, economic reforms and countering China’s expanding influence in the Indian Ocean, as Sri Lanka continues its recovery from the 2022 economic crisis and a deadly cyclone this year.
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, nominee Eric Meyer said Sri Lanka’s strategic position along key global shipping routes makes it central to US efforts to promote a “free and open Indo-Pacific” and to counter “adversarial influences, including China’s growing presence in the region.”
“Sri Lanka sits astride some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, with US Navy vessels and two-thirds of the world’s seaborne crude oil regularly transiting its waters,” Meyer said, noting that the country’s location makes it a focal point of US strategic interests.
Meyer said his top priority, if confirmed, would be ensuring the safety of US citizens in Sri Lanka. He also highlighted the US response to Cyclone Ditwah, which killed more than 600 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
“The United States has committed $2 million in urgent assistance and leveraged US military strategic airlift capabilities to support relief efforts,” he said, describing the response as evidence of a “strong and enduring partnership with Sri Lanka.”
Addressing Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, Meyer described the country as resilient and capable of becoming a regional economic leader. He pointed to expansion plans at the Port of Colombo, which he said could double cargo handling capacity within the next year.
“This highlights the significant and strategic opportunities in Sri Lanka’s ports, logistics and shipping sectors,” he said.
Meyer added that he would urge Colombo to continue economic reforms linked to its IMF programme, arguing that economic sovereignty is closely tied to national independence.
“If they can stick to their reforms, this will also create opportunities for increased US investment and strengthen ties between our two countries,” he said.
During the hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch referred to China’s role in Sri Lanka’s port infrastructure as a warning to other countries.
“What the Chinese did to Sri Lanka with their port has become a poster child around the world for why people shouldn’t do business with China,” Risch said.
In response, Meyer said the US supports “open and transparent” bilateral relationships and would work with Sri Lanka to ensure it asserts its sovereignty, including over ports.
Meyer also said defence and law enforcement cooperation would be a key part of US engagement with Sri Lanka, particularly in disaster relief, countering transnational crime and trafficking, enhancing maritime awareness, and strengthening port security.
He said the US would work with Sri Lanka to safeguard waterways and ports for trade, expand commercial opportunities for US companies, and support Sri Lanka’s role as an emerging regional security partner.
If confirmed, Meyer pledged to work closely with Congress and lead an interagency effort to implement a foreign policy aimed at making the United States “safer, stronger and more prosperous.”
Sri Lanka fell into its worst economic crisis in decades in 2022, marked by severe foreign exchange shortages, debt defaults and mass protests that led to political upheaval. Since then, the government has pursued IMF-backed reforms to stabilise the economy.
China’s financing of major infrastructure projects, including the Hambantota Port, has drawn continued scrutiny in Washington and New Delhi, as Sri Lanka seeks to rebalance its foreign relations amid growing competition in the Indian Ocean region.
