Abstract: A handle-latch assembly mounted on a horizontal sliding door and coupled to a vertically movable latch bolt which protrudes outwardly from a top or bottom door edge, and which enables the inside and outside handles of the door to be respectively used for moving the door in closing and opening directions. The door also has a manual lock actuator on the inside, and an optional key-lock actuator on the outside, whereby latching the door in the closed position requires a deliberate manual manipulation of either the inner lock actuator or the outer key actuator. The assembly permits sequential unlocking and opening of the door from the inside by application of a single horizontally-directed force to the inner handle, whereas when the door is in the closed latched position it can be opened from the outside thereof only by first manually releasing the lock through utilization of the key actuator.