US Senate approves new ambassador to Maldives and Sri Lanka

The United States Senate on Friday approved Alaina B. Teplitz as their ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

She was nominated for the position by President Donald Trump on May 24.

Alaina B. Teplitz is a diplomat and United States Ambassador to Nepal. She was nominated by President Obama on March 26, 2015 and was confirmed by the Senate on August 5, 2015.

Teplitz joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1991. Her initial assignments included ones at the State Department’s Bureau of Administration, as well as international ones in Australia, Albania, and Mongolia.

She was tapped for the role after the end of former ambassador Atul Keshap’s term, which lasted from August 21, 2015, to August 21, this year. During his tenure, ambassador Keshap had repeatedly spoken out against the human rights abuses and political turmoil in Maldives.