Sri Lanka is among the nations affected by the Trump administration’s recent decision to suspend all existing foreign aid and cease the approval of new aid programs.
The announcement was made by newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio via an official cable dispatched to all U.S. diplomatic missions.
According to foreign media reports, this policy shift jeopardizes billions of dollars in funding from the U.S. State Department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which have supported welfare programs across the globe.
President Donald Trump authorized the measure through an executive order, following which the State Department mandated that all foreign aid allocations be concluded within 85 days to align with the administration’s foreign policy objectives.
Since 1956, the United States has provided Sri Lanka with over $2 billion (approximately Rs. 720 billion) in aid, according to the U.S. Embassy in Colombo. U.S.-funded initiatives in Sri Lanka have primarily focused on promoting economic growth, fostering environmental sustainability and resilience, and encouraging good governance practices. These funds have been channeled through government institutions, non-governmental organizations, and civil society groups.
