The America -Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society (ASPAS), in collaboration with the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), hosted “The Beauty of Sri Lanka”, a vibrant photographic and art exhibition recently (25), celebrating the island nation’s rich cultural heritage, artistic traditions, and natural splendour.

According to the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, the event brought together distinguished guests, travel enthusiasts, foreign diplomats, cultural organizations, media personnel and friends of Sri Lanka in an atmosphere of cultural and artistic expression. 

The ceremony was graced by Chief Guest Consul General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, Achini Perera and Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker Senior Scientist at NASA/JPL, Dr. Sarath Gunapala.

The exhibition was officially inaugurated with a ceremonial unveiling, followed by a traditional oil lamp lighting and the observance of the national anthems of Sri Lanka and the United States. 

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest emphasized the importance of promoting Sri Lanka’s cultural and natural heritage on the global stage, particularly with a view to attracting a greater number of tourists from the United States. 

The Consul General noted that the United States ranked eighth among tourist source markets to Sri Lanka in 2025 and highlighted the significant potential to further increase arrivals through enhanced awareness and targeted promotional efforts among U.S. travellers.

The Consul General also commended the initiatives of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in advancing tourism outreach across the Americas. 

She specifically appreciated the Bureau’s continued collaboration with Sri Lanka’s diplomatic missions in the United States and Canada in organizing the annual photographic exhibition, recognizing it as an effective platform for showcasing the country’s unique attractions and strengthening tourism promotion efforts in the region.

Dr. Sarath Gunapala, in his keynote speech titled “Journey of Infrared Photography,” shared insights into the art and science of photography, while President of ASPAS, Suriya Perera, highlighted the role of art in fostering cultural connections.

The programme featured traditional Sri Lankan performances, showcasing the country’s rich performing arts heritage. The event concluded with a presentation of certificates and plants to participating children in recognition of their contributions.

“The Beauty of Sri Lanka” exhibition served as a platform to promote Sri Lanka as a unique travel destination and strengthen cultural ties. The exhibition series will continue in Toronto, PRUN in New York and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington, D.C. on April 27, April 29, and May 2, respectively. (Newswire)

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has welcomed the start of construction of the cricket stadium at Pomona in Los Angeles County, California, marking a major milestone as the sport prepares for its historic Olympic return at LA28 after 128 years.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on the Fairplex Grounds in Pomona on Wednesday, which ICC Chairman Mr. Jay Shah termed as a “major milestone” for the game and its 2.5 billion fans worldwide.

Mr. Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, said: “These are very exciting times for the game of cricket as it makes giant strides in establishing itself as a global sport. Our focus has been on expanding the footprint of cricket and being part of the Olympic movement is something that brings both pride and dreams with it.

“The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in cricket’s return to the Olympics and is a proud moment for all ICC Members and stakeholders worldwide. We’re confident this venue will take centre-stage during the Games and leave a legacy for cricket in the USA.”

ICC Chief Executive Mr. Sanjog Gupta, who attended the ground-breaking ceremony, said the world body remains focused on expanding cricket globally, with its return to the Olympics marking a significant step towards that goal.

Mr. Sanjog Gupta, ICC Chief Executive, said: “This is a ‘ground-breaking’ moment in cricket’s return to the Olympic Games, both for the sport and for the Olympic movement. The journey over the next two years will see many such milestones which enhance the sense of occasion, culture and community, as cricket’s home for LA28 is built in Pomona.

“With the inclusion in the Olympic Games and other regional multi-sport events, cricket has already stepped into a new era of global growth powered by improved accessibility, elevated visibility and stronger institutional support.

“The momentum for our game has never been stronger, demonstrated by the recent ICC events which saw record-breaking stadia attendance as well as broadcast and digital engagement, coupled with deep cultural and socio-economic impact. Strong participation growth across the world and recent “fan-first” efforts by the ICC to grow key markets will further bolster cricket’s march into the Olympics.”

The other dignitaries attending the ground-breaking event were LA28 Vice President of Sports Niccolò Campriani, Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval, Consul General of India in Los Angeles Dr. K. J. Srinivasa, Knight Riders Sports CEO Mr. Venky Mysore, and Fairplex President and CEO Walter Marquez.

The inclusion of cricket in LA28 is seen as a significant opportunity to expand the sport beyond its traditional strongholds and make a meaningful impact in the Americas. It also provides a platform to inspire more young people to take up the game and broaden the fan base across continents, accelerating cricket’s global growth.

Being part of the Olympic movement helps get more funding and support from many governments and the gap between traditionally strong teams and others has reduced considerably in recent years, especially in the T20I format, which will feature in the Olympics for both men’s and women’s competitions. (ICC)

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