COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified reports concerning alleged US warnings to Sri Lanka over the provision of supplies or services to US-sanctioned vessels operating close to the Sea of Sri Lanka. In a statement, Director General and Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Thushara Rodrigo said the United States has not issued secondary sanctions specifically targeting Sri Lanka. He explained that the secondary sanctions are part of a broader US policy that applies globally and are not directed at any specific country.According to the Foreign Ministry, the United States announced the secondary sanctions on August 24.The measures state that individuals or entities providing services to vessels sanctioned by the United States risk losing access to the US financial system.The Ministry noted that information regarding the secondary sanctions is publicly available and that individuals and entities involved in the shipping and merchant shipping industries are generally aware of their application and implications.It further stated that vessels subject to such sanctions are not confined to the Indian Ocean, but are also operating or remaining in other oceans amid ongoing conflicts.The Foreign Ministry stressed the importance of ensuring that the public receives accurate information regarding the application and implications of the sanctions.
