Speech made at the Economic Diplomacy Program by Hon. Swarna Gunaratne, Consul General of Sri Lanka

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

US Government representatives,

Business Leaders

My Dear Friends,

Ladies & Gentlemen;

 

I welcome all of you to my home; I am proud to say that its your second home; on this glorious day that guarantee all you partner & progress with one of most promising nation in the world in the backdrop of Sri Lanka’s Economic Diplomacy. Sri Lanka is a nation with renewed optimism and sustained reforms.

It was exactly 360 days ago we met some of with an audience of 1500 guests at the Royce Hall UCLA where we arranged a specially produced Ballet that depicted a path that people of Sri Lanka traveled to Independence that we gained 71 years ago. Dear Friends; you will imagine, that the path we travelled was so long over 2500 year, of course with rich cultural heritage, best agricultural and irrigation facilities, best education at no cost, healthcare with zero cost.

Sri Lanka is still a small island with 21 million populations, is a tropical paradise, and is the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Its wonder of Asia and it’s the center of knowledge.

Despite periodical global economic upheavals, natural disasters like massive Tsunami and combatting and eliminating most ruthless terrorist organization ever operating in the world the nation has been maintaining sustainable annual economic growth and ensuring progress in people living standard.

Excellencies, Friends; Sri Lanka is second to none with her seductive beaches, world best locations for water sports, ecologically fabulous rain forests, green mountains, natural water falls, a wide variety of wildlife with about 5000 elephants still in the wild, exceptionally unique eco system, several thousand years old heritage sites and best of all, one of the most hospitable and peaceful nations in the entire world.

I am proud to announce that we have always been in the forefront that helps people around the world to refresh not only the body and mind but also soul and spirit. We are one of the most sought after destinations for the global travelers who look forward to experience the centuries old traditional healthcare and spiritual retreats. As you all know Sri Lanka Sri Lanka claimed the top spot in the Lonely Planet’s best travel destinations list of countries to visit in 2019, with Germany and Zimbabwe just behind. Sri Lanka came top in the list of best countries to visit primarily because travel has become much easier and cozier. We are one of the nations that own the best photographed location in the world.

For Sri Lanka, hospitality sector is the third most important economic focus. We are emerging as a virgin destination where actual potential for expansion of tourism industry is still to be tapped. Sri Lanka is becoming one of the most sought after destinations that cannot be matched by any other nations easily.

I experienced and observed; during the last 03 years where I was heading Sri Lanka Diplomatic Mission in Western USA, the unprecedented enthusiasm by the quality travelers looking forward to learn more about Sri Lanka and include Sri Lanka as one of their future destinations for variety of reasons that include eco-tourism, medical/Ayurvedic tourism, historical sites, wild life, food and absolutely clean beaches.

The Sri Lanka Tourism and the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka have identified the travel and leisure sector as one of the key sectors for foreign investment and joint venture participation. I am very pleased to invite the US based entrepreneurs and the corporate sector investors to join with Sri Lanka to be a partner of this progress.

At present we are embarking on mega project of presenting the most comprehensive and efficient financial center in Asia in sea reclaimed land south of port of Colombo. I urged all of you to be proud owner of this state of the art global center “Colombo Port City”.

One of the other main focuses of the Government of Sri Lanka is Tea industry. The Ceylon Tea industry has become Sri Lanka’s most important industry representing the agricultural sector and accounting for about 19% of the nation’s foreign revenues. Tea is getting increased attention globally because of its variety of health benefits. In this context I am well convinced that Ceylon Tea is supporting economies around the world to have healthy citizens and bring down expenditure on public healthcare.  I thank all of tea industry Business partners and Tour and Travel industry personnel who are here today with us and for the wonderful support being extended promoting Ceylon Tea and Sri Lanka Tourism in North America.

With warm and cordial Sri Lanka hospitality I now invite all of you to enjoy our Sri Lankan food which is identified as one of the major reasons that travelers think that the country is a must to visit.  I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors Kumari Sarathchandra Dr Udaya and Pamela De Silva, Dr Lakshman Makandura, Munir Akbar, Senani Abeygunasekera , Romanie Abeysinghe Janaki Sarachchandra,  for their contribution to make this event a success.  Also, my thanks to Mr. Manik Jayakumar, Moran, Suriya  and all other volunteers who helped us in different ways and specially the Consulate staff without whose support this would not have been possible. Special thanks to Mani for his delicious Sri Lankan food you are going to enjoy today.

Thank you to all enjoy the Srilankan hospitality!