Ambassador Aryasinha’s appeal to Sri Lankans in US
Support economic promotion and strengthen advocacy in Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON – Ravinatha Aryasinha, Sri Lankan Ambassador to the US called on Overseas Sri Lankans (OSLs) in the country to support economic promotion and strengthen advocacy back home, saying the mission will also be engaging with the US government and State bodies to advance Sri Lanka’s political, economic, defence and socio-cultural cooperation.
Reaching out to the OSLs, he assured the mission’s service to the community would be upgraded – both directly and in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate in Los Angeles, the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, and the Honorary Consuls spread through the country.
Aryasinha made the call and gave the assurance as he commenced work as Sri Lanka’s appointed Ambassador to the USA, following multi-religious observances at the Embassy in Washington DC on Monday (14). He assumed duties while in quarantine on
December 1.
A representative each from the Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Islamic religions attended a simple ceremony organized by the staff of the embassy to mark the occasion, while the chief priests from several Sri Lankan Buddhist Temples in Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York and Arlington joined the gathering via zoom.
The proceedings began with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by the religious dignitaries, flanked by the ambassador.
Conducting Buddhist Religious observances, the Most Venarable Katugastota Uparatana Thera, Chief Priest of Maryland Buddhist Vihara and Chief Sanganayake of North America, chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings of the Noble Triple on the ambassador and staff. The Most Venerable Dr. Aggamaha Panditha Walpola Piyananda Nayake Thera of the Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara recalled the outreach made to the Sri Lanka community during Aryasinha’s previous posting in Washington DC and appreciated the pivotal diplomatic role played by him over the years in defence of the motherland.
Swami Ragupathi Kurukkal observed Hindu religious observances and blessed the ambassador with a recital of Hindu prayers. The Kurukkal also noted the exemplary services of Aryasinha for the unity and betterment of Sri Lanka’s communal harmony.
Rev. Father Dilantha Arachchilage of the Baptist Church in Potomac conducted Christian prayers and offered his blessings to the ambassador and staff. The Rev Father emphasized the importance of involving the youth in order to harness their potential for community related events and activities.
Syed Rizwan Moulana, representing the Islamic faith, recited verses from the Quran and invoked blessings on the ambassador and staff. In his remarks, Moulana emphasized the importance of celebrating Sri Lanka’s important religious and cultural events in Washington DC, which he said would go a long way for the revival of unity in diversity, among those of Sri Lankan origin living in the US.
-ENCL