Celebrating 20 years of US investment in Sri Lankan communities
KANDY – The US Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Kandy Municipal Council marked the 20th anniversary of the American Corner in Kandy on Tuesday (10), celebrating two decades of fostering cultural and educational ties.
US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, and Deputy Chief Secretary of the Central Province, Dileepa Piyadasa, highlighted the vital role of the American Corner, part of a network of five American Spaces across Sri Lanka. The spaces serve as hubs for cultural exchange, learning, and dialogue, offering free programs like English language training and entrepreneurship workshops that promote mutual understanding and growth.
For 20 years, the Kandy American Corner has been a cornerstone of collaboration, building bridges between the United States and Sri Lanka.
“Today, we celebrate 20 years of the American Corner in Kandy and the strong, enduring partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said Ambassador Julie Chung, noting that in over two decades, the American Corner has empowered thousands of Sri Lankans—especially youth and women—through free education, leadership development, and programs rooted in our shared values of democracy, inclusivity, and opportunity.
“Together, we are building a future where everyone, including marginalized communities, has the tools to thrive. This milestone reflects the incredible impact we can achieve through collaboration, and we look forward to continuing this journey with the people of Sri Lanka,” she added.
Deputy Chief Secretary of the Central Province Dileepa Piyadasa expressed gratitude for the partnership saying the long-standing collaboration between the Kandy Municipal Council and the US Embassy has provided opportunities. “We thank the US Embassy for extending these resources to our district, ensuring equal opportunities for all. We look forward to continuing this relationship well into the future,” she added.
“Our American Spaces network, including the American Corner in Kandy, reflects the United States’ long-standing commitment to Sri Lanka,” said Heidi Hattenbach, Counsellor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy, adding, “For decades, we’ve invested in youth empowerment, education, and leadership opportunities for growth. The American Corner in Kandy is a shining example of this partnership, serving as a bridge between communities and fostering collaboration, understanding, and progress. It’s a testament to what we can achieve together when we invest in people and shared values.”
Since its opening in 2005, the American Corner in Kandy has been a welcoming hub for cultural and educational exchange in Sri Lanka’s Central Province. Located in the D.S. Senanayake Memorial Public Library, it offers free programs focusing on six core areas: information about the United States, cultural activities, educational advising, English language learning, alumni engagement, and skill building. Programs such as English language training, STEAM education, youth leadership development, and women’s entrepreneurship are designed to provide participants with valuable skills for an interconnected world.
Over the past two decades, the American Corner Kandy has welcomed approximately 200,000 visitors and conducted 4,000 programs, with more than 7,000 students completing its initiatives. These efforts reflect a strong partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States, built on shared values of learning and collaboration.
The American Corner Kandy encourages you to visit, share your feedback, and explore ideas for learning about the United States. We are here to serve the community, fostering connections and providing opportunities that strengthen the partnership between Sri Lanka and the United States.
The American Corner Kandy is part of the US Embassy Colombo’s American Spaces network, with locations in Colombo, Jaffna, Matara, and Batticaloa, providing welcoming environments where visitors can connect and learn about the United States through programs and lectures, as well as through books, movies, and magazines. Serving as platforms of knowledge sharing and collaboration for Sri Lankans from all walks of life to come together to engage on issues of common and global interest, the spaces are dedicated to promoting educational growth, cultural exchange, and social development through access to extensive resources and communal engagement. American Spaces organizes a wide range of interactive programs both virtually and in-person, offering something for everyone, whether English language workshops, entrepreneurial mentoring, sessions on US higher education, or discussions on a full range of US policy, society and culture, film screenings, and story-telling sessions. In 2023, the global American Spaces network—which includes American Centers, American Corners, and Binational Centers—reached over 41 million people worldwide through nearly 1.5 million engagement programs and opportunities.
-US Embassy/SL
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