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Sri Lanka signs cargo security accord with US
Brussels, June 25: Sri Lanka became the fifteenth country to sign an agreement with the United States today letting US customs officials operate in the Port of Colombo to monitor containers bound for American ports as part of the fight against terrorism.
Brussels, June 25: Sri Lanka became the fifteenth country to sign an agreement with the United States today letting US customs officials operate in the Port of Colombo to
monitor containers bound for American ports as part of the fight against terrorism.
The accord is designed to safeguard the flow of sea cargo to the United States which accounts for nearly half of the country's imports.
It was signed in Brussels by US and Sri Lankan officials attending a World Customs Organisation meeting that starts tomorrow. "It is important we stand shoulder to shoulder against a new and unusual common enemy to protect not only our citizens, but also our economic strength and well being," said Douglas browning, deputy head of the US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, at the signing ceremony in the US mission to the European Union.
The bureau is part of the US Department of Homeland Security which was created after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
"The initiative is about providing an insurance policy that if there is another terrorist threat, we'll have safe lanes to continue trade," browning said. He denied critics' charges Washington planned to shut down foreign ports if terrorist alert levels there increase.
The United States plans to sign more bilateral agreements.
Bureau Report
It was signed in Brussels by US and Sri Lankan officials attending a World Customs Organisation meeting that starts tomorrow. "It is important we stand shoulder to shoulder against a new and unusual common enemy to protect not only our citizens, but also our economic strength and well being," said Douglas browning, deputy head of the US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, at the signing ceremony in the US mission to the European Union.
The bureau is part of the US Department of Homeland Security which was created after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
"The initiative is about providing an insurance policy that if there is another terrorist threat, we'll have safe lanes to continue trade," browning said. He denied critics' charges Washington planned to shut down foreign ports if terrorist alert levels there increase.
The United States plans to sign more bilateral agreements.
Bureau Report