Sri Lanka unveils special gift to mark America’s 250th independence anniversary

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, has presented the first copy of a Coffee Table Book published by the Embassy to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Independence to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. The publication, unveiled at the Department of State on Wednesday (15), highlights milestones in the U.S.–Sri Lanka relations, American assistance to Sri Lanka, and the contributions of individuals from both nations, while underscoring the enduring friendship between the two countries. The Coffee Table Book is an initiative by the Embassy to underscore the enduring friendship and longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States. The Book reflects upon the key milestones in relations between Sri Lanka and the United States, assistance provided by the United States to Sri Lanka over the years and also recognizes prominent individuals of both countries who have contributed to the socio-economic development of the two nations. Through compelling photography and insightful narratives, the publication offers readers a comprehensive perspective on longstanding relations between Sri Lanka and the United States. During the meeting, the Ambassador briefed the Under Secretary on the objectives of the publication and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to further consolidate bilateral relations. He also informed her that he would work towards translating this publication into Sinhala and Tamil languages, making it more accessible to the general public in Sri Lanka. The Under Secretary welcomed the publication and appreciated the Embassy’s initiative in documenting the historical information on the evolving US-Sri Lanka relations, at a special juncture when the US is celebrating its 250th anniversary of independence. The publication of this Coffee Table Book was made possible as a result of the sponsorship made by the Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAF), underscoring the Embassy’s ongoing efforts to foster stronger bilateral ties and expand public and trade diplomacy initiatives. The Coffee Table Book is available on the following link for perusal: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fkc_4voJwz9bsgAzRvfGPN85ItBpOu3o/view?usp=sharing (Newswire)