U.S. President Donald J. Trump has nominated Eric Meyer, a seasoned diplomat and career member of the Senior Foreign Service, as the next Ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka. Meyer is expected to succeed Ambassador Julie Chung, who has served in Colombo since early 2022.

The nomination, announced by the White House on 9 July, has been sent to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.

A veteran diplomat with regional clout

Eric Meyer, originally from California, currently serves as the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. State Department. In this role, he has overseen U.S. foreign policy across 13 countries, including India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

Meyer brings over two decades of diplomatic experience, having served as Chargé d’Affaires in Norway, Deputy Chief of Mission in North Macedonia, and U.S. Consul General in Kazakhstan and Cambodia. In Washington, he has also advised on policy related to the Arctic Council and global scientific cooperation.

Fluent in six languages including Russian, French, and Khmer, Meyer holds a degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from Georgetown University. His nomination is seen as a signal of Washington’s intent to maintain a steady and experienced diplomatic presence in South Asia.

Strategic Timing

Meyer’s appointment comes as Sri Lanka navigates post-crisis recovery and intensifies its regional diplomatic outreach amid competing global interests in the Indian Ocean.

If confirmed, Meyer will be expected to reinforce U.S. partnerships in maritime security, human rights, and economic reform—while also serving as a key point of contact between Washington and Colombo in an evolving geopolitical landscape.