Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya briefed several prominent opinion makers and young leaders of the Asia-Pacific region including Sri Lanka and the United States participating in the New Generation Seminar (NGS) organized by the East-West Center, on current developments in Sri Lanka at the International Institute for Education (IIE) on Saturday October 4, 2008.

The NGS provides participants with an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of Asia Pacific-U.S. developments and challenges, build a regional network and to become leaders with a more international perspective. Participation in the Seminar is through a competitive application and nomination process, and selects some of the most promising young members of the respective state legislatures as well as key officials of prominent media establishments. Their rigorous program included overviews of the regional economic and energy issues, analysis of globalization, political systems in the regions and policies of the US presidential candidates, among a myriad of issues.

Ambassador Wickramasuriya briefed participants about the current situation in Sri Lanka, US-Sri Lanka bilateral relations, US-Sri Lanka trade and investment relations, ongoing political and economic developments in Sri Lanka, particularly in the re-development of the Eastern Province and the numerous investment opportunities available to foreign entrepreneurs, as well as tourism prospects in Sri Lanka. Ambassador also added that the Government of Sri Lanka was committed to find a political solution to the conflict, and explained the Government’s planned course of action in achieving the same.

The participants of the NGS represented Sri Lanka, USA, Cambodia, China, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, while the Embassy of Sri Lanka was represented by several diplomatic officers of the Mission. Upon completion of the briefing, the participants were treated to samples of some of the finest ‘Ceylon Tea’.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA

08 October 2008