The United States is urging Sri Lanka to make ‘difficult but necessary choices’ to secure its economic independence instead of choosing opaque practises, a senior State Department official said on Thursday, in an apparent reference at China deepening its influence over the South Asian country.

“We encourage Sri Lanka to review the options we offer for transparent and sustainable economic development in contrast to discriminatory and opaque practises,” Dean Thompson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs told a briefing. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit the region next week.

Reuters