Page 1209 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Thai Pongal celebrations in the Sri Lanka Embassy, Washington dc

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC together with the Sri Lankan community in the Greater Washington area, for the fifth consecutive year celebrated the Thai Pongal festival at a colorful ceremony at the Embassy on January 17, 2010. A cross-section of the Sri Lankan Tamil community resident in the greater Washington area and representatives of the Sri Lanka-related associations were present at the event. The celebrations were held in keeping with the tradition of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington DC of celebrating the important religious festivals of Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian.

Sri Lanka at the Â‘VakantiebeursÂ’- 2010 (Trade and Consumer Travel Fair) in Utrecht , the Netherlands

Sri Lanka participated at the ‘Vakantiebeurs’- 2010 in Utrecht in the Netherlands which was held from 12th to 17th of January 2010. The ‘Vakantiebeurs’, is an annual Trade and Consumer Travel Fair which is considered to be the largest event in the Benelux travel market, attracts thousands of tour operators, travel trade professionals, travel journalists, consumers and others in the tourism trade. While over 1600 exhibitors from 160 countries participate at this Fair, it attracted more than 20,000 professionals and 125,000 visitors.

Lanka Mission in Kuwait invoked blessings for all

The embassy staff together with their families and well wishers took part in an overnight pirith chanting ceremony on New Year’s Eve and invoked blessings on all for the New Year 2010.

Economic interests of Sri Lanka promoted in The Hague

“Menace of terrorism is over; its time to intensify our economic engagement with Sri Lanka” said Ambassador Grace Asirwatham while addressing the members of the Netherlands – Sri Lanka Business Council in The Hague on 10th December.

Christmas celebrations at the embassy in The Hague

The Embassy in The Hague celebrated Christmas with Carols on Saturday 19th December in keeping with the tradition to celebrate all major religious festivals at the Chancery premises.

Sri Lanka launch tourism promotional campaign in Western China

The newly established Consulate of Sri Lanka in Chengdu together with Sri Lanka Tourism organized a country promotion workshop on 16th December 2009 at the Consulate premises. The workshop, the first ever of its kind organized by Sri Lanka in Sichuan province, was attended by over 60 representatives from local travel agencies, media and airlines.

Sri Lanka Embassy in Kuwait celebrates Christmas in style

The Embassy staff together with their families & friends, joined by safe-house inmates and the local Sri Lankan Christian & Catholic community celebrated Christmas at the Embassy on 26th December in a spirit of unity and harmony with the sounds of bells marking the festivities. The event, the first ever organized by the embassy Seva Vanitha Unit (Ladies Welfare Group) in Kuwait, held in a truly Christmas festive setting, amidst a traditional Christmas Tree, Christmas Choir, Santa Claus, Christmas gifts etc. among other attractions. The evening was put together in recognition of the beliefs and practices observed by multi religious/multi ethnic communities of Sri Lanka. There was a large gathering of invitees comprised of Sri Lankans belonging to all faiths, foreign guests, Kuwaitis, members of media, well-wishers etc.

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