20 July, 2010 - Published 11:08 GMT

US top diplomat to visit Colombo

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, Robert O Blake, is to arrive in Sri Lanka on Wednesday for talks with the Sri Lankan leaders.

“Assistant Secretary Blake will have consultations with the Sri Lankan government, political parties, business leaders and civil society,” a statement by the US embassy in Colombo said.

Mr. Blake is to visit Maldives on Thursday. He is expected to discuss the political uncertainty in the atoll nation, in his first visit to the Maldives as Assistant Secretary.

Apart from the political leaders, Mr. Blake will meet civil society representatives, anti-trafficking activists, and religious leaders in Male, the statement added.