President Barack Obama has nominated yet another Indian-American, Atul Keshap, as US Ambassador to Sri lanka and Maldives. It comes close on the heels of his appointment of another prominent member of the community, Richard Verma, as the India envoy. A career member of the US Foreign Service, Keshap has been Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, assisting Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Desai Biswal, the Obama administration’s point person for South and Central Asia.
Announcing the nomination of Keshap along with three others to key posts, Obama commented: “I am honoured that these talented individuals have decided to serve our country. They bring their years of experience and expertise to this administration, and I look forward to working with them.” Keshap, who has served as Deputy Political Counsellor at the US Embassy in New Delhi from 2008 to 2010, has also been the Director for India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri lanka, Bhutan and Maldives at the Bureau from 2010 to 2012.