Washington, May 28 (IANS): President Barack Obama has named Democratic former congressman Timothy Roemer to be his envoy in India, the White House said.

Roemer served on the blue-ribbon commission investigating the Sep 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States and on a key committee to prevent nuclear proliferation. He represented a district from the mid-western state of Indiana from 1991 to 2003.

Obama who also named envoys to Sri Lanka and Japan said the ambassadors will "strengthen our partnerships abroad at this critical time for our nation and the world,"

The ambassadorial positions still need confirmation by the US Senate.

Obama also named Patricia Butenis, a career diplomat who has previously been posted in Baghdad, Pakistan and New Delhi, as ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives and longtime technology-focused lawyer John Roos as US ambassador to Japan.

Roos is chief executive of the Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati law firm, and during his tenure "helped lead the firm during the various waves of innovation in Silicon Valley," according to the White House statement.