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 publication was edited by peacebuilder Pushpi Weerakoon, who served as the Lead Editor.

The Coffee Table Book is available on the following link for perusal:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fkc_4voJwz9bsgAzRvfGPN85ItBpOu3o/view?usp=sharing (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s outgoing Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, says the current government never asked him to leave his post despite being appointed by the previous administration, and instead requested that he continue serving.

Speaking at his farewell event in the US, Samarasinghe said that after the National People’s Power (NPP) government came to power and formed an administration, many ambassadors appointed by the previous government were recalled before the end of their terms. However, he said he was not among them.

“The government never asked me to leave. They asked me to stay and continue my work,” Samarasinghe said, adding that he had maintained a strong working relationship with the current administration throughout his tenure.

He revealed that he had recently met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to obtain approval for an official announcement and expressed hope that Sri Lanka would soon receive “good news” regarding a further reduction in US tariff rates.

Samarasinghe said he had remained above politics during his diplomatic service and would continue serving Sri Lanka after returning home, but would not re-enter politics or join any political party.

He added that if the government sought his assistance in the future for the country’s benefit, he would not hesitate to contribute in a non-political capacity.

Reflecting on the civil war period, Samarasinghe also said he had survived two alleged LTTE assassination attempts and paid tribute to Sri Lanka’s armed forces and political leaders who lost their lives during the conflict, saying their sacrifices had helped preserve the country’s freedom. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe visited the U.S. State of Montana on Tuesday (March 31), underscoring the growing partnership between Sri Lanka and Montana through the State Partnership Program.

According to the Montana National Guard, the visit highlighted the importance of disaster response cooperation, education, and industry ties, reflecting a commitment to readiness and resilience that both sides have cultivated over years of collaboration.

“From the mountains of Montana to the shores of Sri Lanka, we are bound by a shared understanding: when disaster strikes, response must be swift, but relationships must already be strong,” the Guard noted.

Following Cyclone Ditwah, Montana National Guard engineers, medical professionals, and disaster response leaders worked alongside Sri Lankan counterparts, reinforcing trust built long before the storm.

The Montana National Guard said the Ambassador’s visit marks the next step in expanding cooperation across government, education, and industry.

“Because the State Partnership Program is more than a framework. It is a commitment to readiness, to resilience, and to one another,” the statement added.

Montana officials stressed that the partnership strengthens preparedness, broadens perspective, and reflects the “Montana Way.” (Newswire)

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A delegation representing the Montana State Partnership Program met with Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, on Wednesday (25 Feb) to explore substantial investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s graphite sector. 

According to a statement from the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C., the delegation featured SPP Director, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Cory, alongside the Founder of Mooney Group LLC, a leading U.S. mining firm specializing in critical minerals. 

James Mooney, accompanied by Mary Mooney (MD, Mooney Group) and Chris Dorrington (Montana DOT), conveyed a strong interest in investing in Sri Lanka’s graphite industry and leveraging their expertise to connect with U.S and global markets.

Ambassador Samarasinghe welcomed this intent, emphasizing Sri Lanka’s commitment to facilitating and encouraging Foreign Direct Investment resulting in value-added production. 

He underlined that the Expression of Interest to develop Sri Lanka’s Graphite Industry by sharing technology, safety and environmental standards, represents a vital stride towards bolstering bilateral economic ties and positioning Sri Lanka more prominently in the global critical minerals supply chain.

The Mooney Group firm focuses on identifying and developing mineral resources, particularly those critical to the semiconductor, battery, and defence industries. 

The Group employs a hands-on, strategic approach to mining and resource management, often operating as a partner to drive value in mineral extraction and processing. The firm has been involved in exploring opportunities in Central Asia and leveraging professional expertise to optimize mining operations.

The Deputy Chief of Mission Maduka Wickramarachchi, Minister of Commerce Nalinda Wijerathne and the Defence Adviser Commodore Dumindu Abeywickrama were also present. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, has met with Assistant Secretary of the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), Paul Kapur. 

Commenting on the meeting, Paul Kapur said the discussion at the US Department of State focused on trade and maritime security cooperation between the two countries. 

“Thank you to Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States Samarasinghe for stopping by @StateDept. We discussed trade and maritime security cooperation to advance the peace and prosperity of both our countries and the larger Indo-Pacific region. – SPK” the US Department of State said in a post on ‘X’. (Newswire)

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A group of twenty-two from Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia, comprising faculty and students, who are scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka, recently called on the Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C. Mahinda Samarasinghe. 

According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington, D.C., the group is conversant in the traditional art forms of Sri Lanka including Kandyan dance.

The visiting team will be led by the 11th President of Randolph College, Prof. Sue Ott Rowlands, who believes in the importance of global partnerships and has cherished Sri Lanka since her first visit in 2010. She was introduced to the country by Sri Lankan academic, geopolitics and foreign policy analyst, Asanga Abeyagoonasekera.  Prof. Rowlands has a widely consequential career in leadership in the performing arts in several colleges across the US, with acclaimed expertise in drama and theatre. She has also delivered remarkable solo performances in a number of countries.  

The visit will cover the UNESCO heritage sites in Anuradhapura, Kandy and Galle, and the group anticipates a highly rewarding and meaningful cultural experience, with an expert in the subject from Peradeniya University to accompany them. They hope to visit several architectural masterpieces of Geoffrey Bawa, one of the most influential Asian architects of his time. The academics also hope to pay a visit to the village of Sirambiyadi off Puttalam, to learn about the Kaffir traditions of the last clan of versatile Africans in Sri Lanka. During the sojourn in Colombo, they hope to interact with the University of Visual and Performing Arts and lay a firm foundation for greater cultural collaboration in the future.

Moreover, two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the University of Peradeniya, and Sri Palee Campus of the University of Colombo focused on student and cultural exchanges, and demography-related research programs are scheduled to be signed. Specific projects in relation to the two general MOUs will be followed later.

The Randolph College offers Kandyan dance for academic credits, for the first time in its history and perhaps for the first time in the history of Liberal Arts in the US.  This initiative was spearheaded by a permanent Faculty Member at the University of Peradeniya, and Quillian Visiting International Scholar at Randolph College, Dr. Sudesh Mantillake.  He also organized the Movement Rhizome: Quillian International Symposium on Sri Lanka, which delved into Sri Lanka’s culture, history, and resilience through performances, workshops, and academic discussions. The highlight of the symposium was a unique “docu-dance” performance “Contextualizing My Devil Dance,” led by Mantillake himself, accompanied by Chinthaka Bandara on percussion and vocals, and Vajira Mantillakein on dance and vocals. The event was a critical exploration of the art, culture and history of the country. (Newswire)

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