"Following the historic political transition after Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2015, US assistance to Sri Lanka has entered a new era," said the budgetary proposals sent by US Secretary of State John Kerry to the Congress in which he proposed USD 31 million for Sri Lanka as part of New Silk Road and Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor initiatives.
Kerry has proposed a USD 31 million financial assistance to this island nation for the fiscal 2016-2017, beginning October 1 this year.
The resources will also be used to encourage reconciliation efforts and support anti-corruption activities - key foci as the government undertakes major reforms during this political transition, the State Department said.
"To help increase economic stability, US assistance will also work to improve economic governance and growth, while supporting livelihoods and promoting trade," it said.
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President Maithripala Sirisena, 64, came to power last January with the backing of Sri Lanka's minority Tamils and Muslims in addition to the majority Sinhalese on the back of promises to ensure ethnic reconciliation and end the corruption and nepotism of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa.
But he is also under international pressure to do more to ensure reconciliation in the ethnically divided nation.