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75 years of US – SL relations celebrated (Pics)

Published

11 months ago

June 23, 2023

editor

United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung hosted an event in Colombo on June 22 to mark the 247th anniversary of America’s Declaration of Independence.

Ambassador Chung took the opportunity to also highlight the anniversary of 75 years of a strong and enduring partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry attended the celebration as the Chief Guest.

American citizens around the world celebrate Independence Day, the day on which the country’s founding fathers gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776 to sign the Declaration of Independence. With the Declaration, America took its first step toward self-government, based on certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and government powers derived by the consent of the governed.

Ambassador Chung said at the event, “We firmly believe that from freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, spring the dynamism and entrepreneurism that can develop a nation, alongside the political and social stability that will secure it. That is true in the United States, in Sri Lanka, and everywhere in between.”

Highlighting that the United States is one of Sri Lanka’s oldest partners, Ambassador Chung emphasized that mutual values and close collaboration have demonstrated that both countries can succeed together. She said, “As we celebrate America’s national independence and our 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we are really celebrating a remarkable partnership with all the citizens and the Government of Sri Lanka. For Americans, our founders stated it clearly, and to this day, we follow the course they laid – we respect and adhere to our Constitution in order to form a more perfect union. The objective of the United States’ partnership with Sri Lanka is no less profound.”

A statement issued by the US embassy in Sri Lanka further notes :

Our partnership flourishes in government-to-government and people-to-people ties that deliver benefits to both Americans and Sri Lankans alike. Since 1956, USAID has provided over US $2 billion in assistance across a variety of sectors, including nutrition, health, education, human rights and governance, disaster response, and the environment. Just in the last year, when Sri Lanka was in the midst of an economic crisis, the United States Government provided over $270 million in new support, from fertilizer for farmers to funding assistance for small businesses.

Our military-to-military relationship, which has grown steadily over the years, is focused on bilateral training, exercises, and technical exchanges that will ultimately help to build a resilient force that can contribute to ensuring an open, free, and peaceful Indo-Pacific region. The Peace Corps has helped to form tremendous cross-cultural ties since 1962, with over 500 volunteers having dedicated two or more years of their lives, building capacities in Sri Lankan communities and developing relationships that will last a lifetime.

The United States is Sri Lanka’s largest export market, with $3.3 billion in exports in 2022 alone. It is also one of the preferred destinations of Sri Lanka’s brightest, with 3,000 students travelling to the U.S. to study in the last year. The U.S. Embassy directly supports other academic and professional training through exchanges such as the Fulbright and the International Visitor Leadership Programs, with nearly 3,000 Sri Lankans participating in these programs over the past 75 years.

Looking forward, the partnership that we have established will form the foundation of even greater development of people-to-people relationships; economic, political, and social progress; and a region that remains as free and open as it is geographically vital.

America’s friendship, commitment, and support in Sri Lanka have achieved much over the past 75 years, and that is worth celebrating. That same friendship, commitment, and support will endure, and together we can build a brighter future for Sri Lanka and its people.

Photo Story

ASLCSCC holds Chinese Cultural exhibition in Colombo (Pics)

Published

1 week ago

May 10, 2024

editor

An exhibition of Chinese Culture kicked off in Colombo yesterday (May 09) at the exhibition hall of the Public Library, Colombo.

The exhibition, organised by the Association for Sri Lanka – China Social and Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC), showcases photographs, art, crafts and calligraphy and will be held today as well.

The event kicks off a series of events which will be held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, which will take place on October 01.

Speaking to ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’, ASLCSCC Chairman – Mr. Indrananda Abeysekera said that this event will be the first of 75 events planned by SLCSCC.

Officials of the Cultural section of the Chinese embassy, ASLCSCC members and school children attended the exhibition opening yesterday morning.

(Pics : Shanika Jayasekara)

Photo Story

India holds artificial limb camp in Sri Lanka (Pics)

Published

2 weeks ago

May 8, 2024

nipuni

A Camp to provide artificial limbs to 1000 Sri Lankan beneficiaries was jointly inaugurated on May 07, 2024 by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka – Mr. Santosh Jha and. Premitha Bandara Thennakoon, State Minister of Defence in the presence of Secretary Defence, Gen Kamal Gunaratne and Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Lt Gen Vikum Liyanage at the Ranaviru Seva Authority premises in Gampaha district.

The Camp will be conducted roughly over a period of two months at two locations viz Colombo and Vavuniya, and will serve civilians and defence personnel from different regions of the country. The civilian beneficiaries have been identified with the support of All Ceylon Buddhist Congress.

The Camp is supported by the Government of India and is being conducted by an Indian NGO Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), which works for physical and socio-economic rehabilitation of the physically disabled. The Jaipur-based NGO, which was founded in 1975, is also the world’s largest organisation for the differently abled in terms of fitment of artificial limbs and other related aids.

It may be recalled that, BMVSS had organised four such camps in Sri Lanka earlier – Vavuniya in March-April 2010; Jaffna in September 2011; and Colombo and Jaffna in Feb 2022. More than 3100 people had then benefitted from these camps with more than 2200 alone getting the ‘Jaipur Foot’.

In his speech during the opening ceremony, the High Commissioner Jha reiterated India’s deep and abiding commitment to the people of Sri Lanka. The Artificial Limb Fitment Camp exemplifies the persistent endeavour of the India-Sri Lanka partnership to deliver tangible impact on the lives of people.

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75th Foundation Day of ICCR celebrated in Colombo (Pics)

Published

3 weeks ago

April 30, 2024

editor

The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, cultural arm of the High Commission of India, Colombo, commemorated the 75th Foundation Day of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) at the Viharamahadevi Park Open Air Theatre in Colombo on April 29, 2024.

The event unfolded with a vibrant showcase of Indian classical dances and musical performances, painting a tapestry of cultural harmony and universality.
High Commissioner of India H E Santosh Jha was joined by Minister of Education – Dr Susil Premajayantha as the Chief Guest and Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs – Vidura Wickramanayaka as the Guest of Honour in inaugurating the event. High Commissioner Jha in his address congratulated the ICCR family for being the pillar of India’s cultural diplomacy for 75 years and counting. Minister Premajayantha thanked ICCR for offering over 200 fully-funded scholarships annually for Sri Lankan students to pursue Under Graduate, Post Graduate and doctoral degrees in diverse subjects in more than 120 leading Universities and institutions of India.

On this occasion, High Commissioner jointly with the Minister of Education Dr Susil Premajayantha and the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Vidura Wickramanayaka felicitated the winners of the second edition of the Pratibha Sangam competitions. An initiative of ICCR to commemorate 75 years of Indian independence, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Pratibha Sangam (Confluence of Cultures) shines spotlight on the invaluable contributions of foreign nationals and overseas Indians to Indian classical art forms.

ICCR was founded in 1950 by India’s first Education Minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The 75th Foundation Day of ICCR holds immense significance as it commemorates 75 glorious years of an institution that has been at the forefront of India’s cultural ties, fostering understanding, goodwill, and cooperation between India and the world. The ICCR centre in Sri Lanka, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre under the aegis of High Commission of India has also completed 25 Years. Established as a testament to the enduring friendship between India and Sri Lanka, the Centre serves as a hub for cultural exchange, appreciation, and dialogue.