U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Sri Lanka for a two day official visit. He arrived in the country on the invitation of Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

 

Kerry will hold discussions with top officials in Sri Lanka, including President Maithripala Sirisena.

 

Kerry's visit is the first official visit to Sri Lanka by a sitting U.S. Secretary of State in 43 years. The then Secretary of State William Piercee Rogers visited Sri Lanka in 1972. Secretary of State Colin Powell had visited the country in 2005. However it was a private visit following the Tsunami disaster.

 

U.S. State Department said that Kerry will leave for Kenya and Djibouti, following his Sri Lanka visit.