SECRETARY KERRY TRAVEL TO COLOMBO, NAIROBI AND DJIBOUTI Press Statement
Marie Harf
Acting Department Spokesperson,
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
April 27, 2015
Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Colombo, Sri Lanka, on May 2 for his first trip to the country and the first visit by a Secretary of State since 2004.
In Colombo, he will meet government leaders, civil society members, and other representatives from the country’s diverse communities to hear and express U.S. support for their vision for a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous future for its people. Secretary Kerry will also join his hosts for the celebration of the Buddhist holiday of Vesak.
Secretary Kerry will also visit Nairobi, Kenya, beginning on May 3, to reinforce the importance of our strong bilateral relationship. In his meetings with government officials, business leaders, opposition leaders, humanitarian aid organizations and civil society representatives, he will discuss a range of issues including security cooperation — particularly in light of the recent tragic attack at Garissa University College – refugee assistance, trade, and biodiversity.
This visit will focus on our common goals, including accelerating economic growth, strengthening democratic institutions, and improving regional security.
The Secretary will travel to Djibouti, Djibouti, on May 5, where he will meet high-level leaders to discuss our bilateral cooperation and their support to evacuation efforts from Yemen. He will engage with Djiboutian youth and religious leaders on a range of issues. The Secretary will also visit with U.S. military personnel at Camp Lemonnier.
This is the first time that a sitting Secretary of State will visit Djibouti.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
PRESS STATEMENT
US SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY TO UNDERTAKE
OFFICIAL VISIT TO SRI LANKA
Colombo, April 28: On the invitation of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Secretary of State of the United States of America John Kerry will pay an official visit to Sri Lanka from 2nd to 3rd May 2015. This is the first official visit by an US Secretary of State since that of William Pierce Rogers in 1972. Secretary Collin Powell visited Sri Lanka following the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2005.
Secretary Kerry will pay a courtesy call on President Maithripala Sirisena and hold wide ranging discussions with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Foreign Minister Samaraweera. He will deliver a special guest lecture on the invitation of the Foreign Minister and attend several other engagements in Colombo.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
28 April 2015