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75 years of US – SL relations celebrated (Pics)
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.
News
Dead dolphin pod found on Wilpattu coast (Pics)
A pod of dolphins has perished in the Wilpattu National Reserve area recently, the Department of Wildlife Conservation has stated.
According to the Department of Wildlife Conservation, 11 dolphins were found dead and revealed to be Common bottlenose dolphins.
Upon receiving a tipoff, a group of wildlife officials inspected the area and filed details before the Puttalam Magistrate court.
It is suspected that they had died after entangling in a fishing net and samples have been submitted to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine & Animal Science of Peradeniya University. The report in this regard is yet to be submitted.
(Source & pics : Department of Wildlife Conservation)
News
Trishaw operators in Dambulla stage protest against NPP candidate (Pics)
The members of Trishaw Operators Associations in Dambulla, Sigiriya, and Habarana areas yesterday staged a massive protect against the arrest of six trishaw drivers on charges of assaulting a car driver transporting a tourist and over robbery of a gold chain.
The six suspects taken into custody had been produced in court and remanded.
The protesters said the complainant was a former soldier of the army who had had forwarded nominations to contest the election to Thambuttegama Pradeshiya Sabha representing the National People’s Power (NPP)
They said he had clashed for two days with the trishaw operators in Dambulla town when transporting a tourist in his car and behaved in an unruly manner claiming that he was a supporter of the government.
They pointed out that he had later made a false complaint to the IGP that he was assaulted and robbed him of his gold chain that resulted in the arrest of six trishaw operators who were produced in court and remanded.
The protesters said by allowing individuals from other areas to operate taxi services in Dambulla town would result in the loss of livelihood of hundreds of trishaw operators in the area.
They accused the police of arbitrary arrest of six trishaw drivers at the instigation of senior police officials, without a formal investigation of the complaint made by an individual who had forwarded nominations to contest the local government election under the banner of the NPP.
They said they did not expect the government of political favour to its supporters in this manner and political interference.
They requested the IGP to hold formal investigations based on data on CCTV and to mete out justice.
Dambulla police had deployed a police contingent to step up security in the town.
(DailyMirror)
This story and photos, originally published by DailyMirror have not been edited by SLM staff
News
1st pediatric bone marrow transplant unit opened at Apeksha Hospital (Pics)
The first unit in the country dedicated to bone marrow and blood cell transplantation for children with cancer was inaugurated today (Jan. 02) at the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama.
The construction of this unit was funded by donations from the historic Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya and carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
This new unit provides an opportunity for a large number of children with cancer to receive timely and advanced treatments, which previously required traveling abroad at a cost of millions of rupees.
The unit has the capacity to treat four children simultaneously, offering hope and improved healthcare outcomes for young patients.
Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Thero, Chief Incumbent of Kirivehera Temple, expressed his gratitude, stating, “The funds donated by devotees to seek the blessings of the Kataragama deity have now been transformed into this hospital. I believe that the hundreds of thousands of people who contributed will be very happy to know that they have also played a part in this noble cause.”
Dishan Gunasekara, Basnayake Nilame of Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya, highlighted the transparency and growth in temple transactions, noting, “When I became the Basnayake Nilame, the temple’s income was around 50 million rupees. Last year, it exceeded 400 million rupees, an eightfold increase. With the funds available, we were able to construct this building and are currently upgrading the Kataragama Hospital with a new complex of 44 beds, which is 80% complete.”
(Excerpts : News1st / Pics : Facebook page of Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Dewalaya)
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