SRI LANKAN COMMUNITY IN GEORGIA EXPRESSES APPRECIATION FOR EMBASSY OUTREACH PROGRAM

Ambassador, Diplomats take part in first-ever community meeting in Atlanta

Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya recognized members of the Sri Lankan Diaspora for their support for the nation’s post-conflict development and reconciliation efforts during a day-long meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. He expressed gratitude to the Sri Lankan community for their commitment to Sri Lanka both during the recently concluded conflict with the terrorist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as well as afterward.

In line with the Government’s initiative in reaching out the Sri Lankans living abroad, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C., in collaboration with the Sri Lankan community in the State of Georgia, organized one day “Community Outreach Programme” with the assistance of Mr. Daminda Manamendra, Director Kinderland Montessori, in Atlanta on Saturday 14th November 2009. Rev. Panamwela Wajirabudhdhi Thero, the Chief Priest of the Georgia Buddhist Vihara, also attended at the event.

Ambassador Wickramasuriya also stated that the government of Sri Lanka is ardently pursuing reconciliation among its people, both at home and abroad.

“The Sri Lankan community living in the U.S. actively supported the government’s effort of defeating the LTTE and to counter pro-LTTE activities in the United States,” Ambassador Wickramasuriya said.

Embassy Staff Officials are in conversation with Sri Lankan community members in Georgia.

Dr. A. Amarasinghe, in his welcome address thanked the Ambassador and Embassy Staff for their outreach efforts as it was the first-ever meeting between an Ambassador and the Sri Lankan community in Georgia.

Ambassador also noted, that it was, “the first occasion senior diplomats visited the State of Georgia to reach out to the Sri Lankan community here to provide consular assistance, information on Trade and Investment opportunities and post conflict development programme currently undertaken by the Government of Sri Lanka.”

The one-day community outreach program was part of the Embassy’s campaign to meet with Sri Lankans living throughout the U.S. to discuss post-conflict development, peace and reconciliation.

Officials of the Embassy provided information to the community on opportunities available in trade, investment and tourism sector, Treasury Bonds / Bills, Non Resident Foreign Currency and Resident Foreign Currency accounts and attended inquiries on issuing passports, dual citizenship issues and other consular related services.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA

17 November 2009