Eric Meyer has been officially sworn in at the State Department in Washington, D.C., as the next United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, bringing decades of extensive diplomatic and regional experience to the post

Eric Meyer has been officially sworn in at the State Department in Washington, D.C., as the next United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka, bringing decades of extensive diplomatic and regional experience to the post. 

The U.S. Embassy in Colombo formally announced his appointment, warmly welcoming the new envoy. "On behalf of the entire Embassy team, we warmly congratulate him! We look forward to working under his leadership to deepen the partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka, advancing our shared interests and priorities," the embassy said in its statement.

Meyer’s swearing-in follows his nomination by U.S. President Donald Trump in July 2025 and his subsequent confirmation by the U.S. Senate in May 2026. He takes on the role of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary at a time when the strategic location of Sri Lanka remains a focal point of U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific. During his confirmation hearing, Meyer emphasized that his top priority would be ensuring the safety and security of U.S. citizens and advancing American interests in the region.

A career member of the Senior Foreign Service, Meyer arrives in Colombo with a deep understanding of South and Central Asia. From January to August 2025, he served as the Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs in Washington. In that capacity, he was responsible for coordinating U.S. policy priorities across thirteen nations, including Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh. Most recently, Meyer served as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the U.S. Mission to Norway, acting as the embassy's chief of mission.

His expansive diplomatic career spans 24 years and features numerous high-level international postings. He previously served as Chargé d'Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia, as well as the U.S. Consul General in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where he led interagency operations. His international background also includes key diplomatic roles in Cambodia, Finland, Argentina, and Egypt. While in Helsinki, he notably sat on the board of the Fulbright Commission.

Before entering the State Department, Meyer worked in corporate sales and government relations within the airline industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University. A highly decorated diplomat, he has received multiple Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards from the U.S. Department of State. He is also a polyglot, speaking English, Danish, French, Khmer, Russian, and Spanish.