After Gotabaya Rajapaksa became president in 2019, the media reported that he had summoned the head of US Aid in Sri Lanka and asked if they were funding an anti-government social media campaign. Gotabaya summoned the head of the US Aid in Sri Lanka and questioned them after Samantha Power was appointed as the head of the US Aid in America. The Rajapaksas accused Samantha Power of plotting to overthrow the Rajapaksa government in 2015, and foreign relations analysts had said that her new appointment was not very favourable for the Rajapaksas.
However, Samantha Power helped Gotabaya’s government to obtain vaccines during the Covid period. She did so at the request of former Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
When Ranil became president in 2022, he asked Samantha Power for help with fertilizer, and Samantha Power provided help through US Aid. Later, Ranil said that he was in the presidency because of Samantha Power and that if she did not help him get fertilizer, he would have to go home in the face of public opposition. After Ranil became president, Samantha Power came and met Ranil. After Anura became president, she had a visual discussion with Anura. After the Indian Foreign Minister came to Sri Lanka and met Anura, the foreign diplomat who engaged with Anura was Samantha Power. During that conversation, Anura asked her for help, and she asked for a list of priorities to help. Anura had high hopes for the outcomes of that discussion.
Samantha Power is no longer the head of US Aid. The Trump administration has sent a circular to stop US Aid across the globe. Last week, the programs organized by NGOs receiving US Aid had to be cancelled because of Trump’s order.
Although Trump’s order is a blow to NGOs that have stood up for human rights, media freedom, and democracy in Sri Lanka, it will be a great comfort to Anura’s government. NGOs that stand up against the government’s anti-democratic actions mostly receive US aid assistance. The cessation of that assistance is a relief to Anura’s government.
Anura’s American connection to Sri Lanka is through the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, and Samantha Power. Julie Chung is scheduled to end her term in Sri Lanka in the next few months. Samantha Power is no longer in the US Aid position.
Chandrika and Mangala built the connections between Sri Lankan political leaders and Democratic Party governments in the US through Samantha Power. There is a Republican party government now. The opposition has close ties with the Republican Party. At this time, it is politically advantageous for Anura to stop American interference in the anti-democratic decisions of his government rather than establishing forging ties with the Republican government.
