Sri Lanka: Debt, Development, and Democracy? U.S. Ambassador Alaina B. Teplitz on U.S.-Sri Lanka Relations

In the sixth and final episode of our miniseries Sri Lanka: Debt, Development, and Democracy, A'ndre interviews outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz to get her perspective on the  state of U.S.-Sri Lanka relations in the midst of Sri Lanka's tightening relationship with China. Ambassador Teplitz, who is wrapping up her time in Sri Lanka after serving since 2018, speaks frankly on the 'issues' that both countries need to work through,  the 'ups' and 'downs' since the end of the Civil War in 2009, and relations with the Governments led by Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The Ambassador refutes certain claims about the Millennium Challenge Corporation agreement (MCC) that the incumbent Sri Lankan Government declined, stating that even the prior Rajapaksa Government had sought out grants associated with the MCC -- calling the failure of the most recent agreement "very disappointing". Ambassador Teplitz also discusses the difference between U.S. and Chinese aid, why U.S. aid isn't "conditions-based", and why some Chinese investments do give the U.S. Government pause over Sri Lanka's sovereignty. A'ndre closes out the conversation with questions on the U.S. promotion of accountability for controversies around Sri Lanka's Civil War, Sri Lanka's economy and potential IMF intervention, and COVID-aid.