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From economic collapse and street protests to aid, influence, and controversy, Julie Chung’s four years in Sri Lanka reshaped diplomacy, challenged sovereignty, and left a legacy that still divides opinion.
As Julie Chung, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, prepares to depart next week after nearly four years, her tenure stands out as one of the most visible and influential diplomatic periods in recent history. Arriving in February 2022, just as Sri Lanka plunged into its worst economic crisis since independence, Chung entered a nation gripped by fuel queues, food shortages, mass protests, and political instability. Few ambassadors have operated in such a volatile environment, and fewer still have left such a deep imprint on public life and political debate.
Her diplomatic style blended high-level engagement, public diplomacy, and grassroots outreach. That combination earned her praise from supporters who credit her with helping stabilize Sri Lanka during a historic crisis, while critics accused her of overreach and excessive involvement in domestic affairs. From the outset, her presence sparked debate over the true extent of U.S. influence on Sri Lankan policy making.
Active Engagements
Chung’s diplomacy was defined by her unusually broad access and frequent meetings with Sri Lanka’s political leadership, civil society, and business community. Early in her tenure, she met figures across the political spectrum, including then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and opposition leaders such as Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the JVP. During the height of the 2022 economic collapse, she held discussions with economists and policy experts, emphasizing structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and sustainable economic growth.
Her engagement did not slow after elections reshaped the political landscape. In the post 2024 period, she continued meeting senior leaders, including President Dissanayake, advocating priorities such as maritime security, economic recovery, and regional cooperation. This unrestricted access allowed her to influence policy dialogue directly. However, it also triggered criticism. In 2023, her engagement with the Election Commission drew allegations of potential electoral interference. In December 2025, she met the Science and Technology Advisor to discuss artificial intelligence and digitalization, promoting U.S. technology investment as Sri Lanka sought modernization.
Compared to more reserved predecessors, Chung openly advanced U.S. strategic interests, including IMF led reforms and debt restructuring, which Sri Lanka pursued with backing from Washington and other creditors during its post crisis recovery.
Mediation in Aragalaya
The 2022 Aragalaya protest movement marked Chung’s most controversial and consequential involvement. Sparked by economic hardship, the protests quickly evolved into a nationwide uprising. Chung publicly supported peaceful demonstrations, tweeting in April 2022 that “Sri Lankans have a right to protest peacefully.” Sources suggest her diplomatic pressure on the Rajapaksa administration helped prevent harsher crackdowns, indirectly contributing to the political changes that followed.
She met opposition leaders, including AKD, to discuss the unfolding crisis and aligned U.S. messaging with democratic expression. Her criticism of arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in August 2022 further positioned the United States as a defender of civil liberties. These actions influenced government responses and strengthened ties with emerging political forces that later rose to power.
Neutralizing Anti U.S. Sentiment
When Chung arrived, anti American sentiment remained strong, shaped by earlier perceptions of U.S. interference. She countered this through aid, visibility, and public engagement. In 2022, the U.S. provided $20 million in humanitarian assistance, $150 million in private sector support, and $80 million for renewable energy projects. Chung emphasized partnership rather than dominance, using media and public appearances to highlight cooperation.
By 2026, initiatives such as the return of the Peace Corps in 2024, education exchanges, and youth programs had softened attitudes. Her response to Cyclone Ditwah in December 2025, including $2 million in emergency aid and airlifted assistance, further improved the U.S. image. She also addressed misinformation by engaging digital creators and promoting fact based narratives.
Mattala Airport Venture
Chung’s influence was evident in the cancellation of the Russia India joint venture to manage Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. The proposed deal faced legal obstacles and U.S. concerns over Russian involvement amid sanctions. Critics alleged Chung influenced the NPP government to distance itself from Moscow and Beijing. In 2025, the project was scrapped, aligning strategic infrastructure decisions with U.S. preferences for non Russian partnerships.
Criticism and Grassroots Outreach
Chung faced open backlash from then President Wickremesinghe after she condemned the July 2022 raid on Galle Face protesters. Her remarks drew sharp responses, highlighting tensions between diplomatic advocacy and national sovereignty. Despite this, she expanded grassroots outreach, visiting regions rarely reached by previous ambassadors, engaging youth leadership programs, supporting women’s initiatives, and participating in hands on relief work.
She frequently expressed affection for Sri Lanka, climbing Adam’s Peak like a local pilgrim and praising the country’s resilience. Her statement, “I have loved every moment of my time in Sri Lanka,” and her 2025 tattoo of Sri Lanka’s map became symbols of her personal connection.
Through social media, she reshaped the U.S. diplomatic narrative from interference to engagement. As she departs, Julie Chung leaves behind a transformed relationship, one strengthened by cooperation yet shadowed by enduring questions about influence, sovereignty, and power in a shifting Indo Pacific order.
