New U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka sworn in

Eric Meyer has officially taken up his post as the new United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo announced on August 13, 2026. Meyer was sworn in on August 12 during a ceremony at the U.S. Department of State, administered by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. Ambassador Meyer is not a political appointee but a distinguished career diplomat with more than two decades of experience in the foreign service. He is recognized as a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in South and Central Asian affairs. From January to August 2025, he served as a senior desk officer in the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, where he handled matters concerning Sri Lanka and other countries in the region. Prior to this assignment, he was the Chargé d'Affaires at the U.S. Mission in Norway. His diplomatic career has also included postings in Argentina, Cambodia, Egypt, Finland, Kazakhstan, and North Macedonia. The U.S. Senate approved his appointment as ambassador to Sri Lanka in May. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Meyer emphasized Sri Lanka's strategic importance to U.S. foreign policy due to its geographical location. He further stated that his key priorities would include ensuring the continuity of Sri Lanka's economic reforms, creating more opportunities for U.S. investment, and bolstering economic and defense cooperation between the two nations.