US pledges friendship to Lanka govt

COLOMBO, Feb 2 (AFP): A top US diplomat promised Monday that Washington would be a friend and partner of Colombo as she made the first visit by a senior American official since the toppling of Sri Lanka's long-time strongman.
In the build-up to last month's presidential elections, a top lieutenant to then president Mahinda Rajapakse accused the United States of trying to bring about "regime change", marking a new low in bilateral relations.
But since Rajapakse was beaten at the ballot box, the United States has moved swiftly to rebuild ties with a country that has become increasingly close to China over the past decade.
Speaking on a visit to Colombo, Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal said the US was ready to help Sri Lanka on a range of issues, including its human rights record, which was hugely contentious under Rajapakse.