The Consul General of Sri Lanka Dr. Hector Weerasinghe was invited to be an Honoree and distinguished guest at the annual Diplomats Diversi-Tea Gala, celebrating the Union Day at the Celebrity Center Pavilion Hall, Hollywood on 25th April, 2013 by the Founder of the Gala Ms. April Sutton.
The Consul General addressing the large gathering stated that Sri Lanka is a small paradise with a rich culture and natural beauty and that the island is one of the diverse biological hotspots in Asia, having 15 national parks, 350 waterfalls and 250 acres of botanical gardens. He noted that religious and cultural festivities have enhanced the beauty of Sri Lankan life for centuries and that Sri Lanka is famous for its hospitality. He also stated that the Lonely Planet, the world’s most renowned and largest travel guide book and digital media publisher has named Sri Lanka as the number one travel destination in the world to visit in the year 2013 and according to another survey, Sri Lanka is one of the cheapest tourist destinations in the world.
Dr. Hector Weerasinghe mentioned that due to the wisdom and the able leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the country was freed from terrorism in the year 2009. He further said that Sri Lanka is now on a rapid economic development footing, and it is an ideal place for trade and investment due to its strategic location, economic and political stability and prudent and pragmatic investment policies.
A documentary on Sri Lanka tourism was also screened. The Consul General’s speech and the tourism documentary was well received by the audience, comprising of diplomatic corps, businessmen, artists and entertainment agencies. Some participants expressed their willingness to visit Sri Lanka to explore the beautiful island.
Mr. V.S. Sidath Kumar, Consul/Minister (Commercial), and the Sri Lanka Consulate staff promoted Ceylon Tea at the event. Each participant was given a gift bag containing Ceylon Tea packets of Nuwara Eliya, Dimbulla, Kandy, Ruhuna, Uva and Udapussellawa and a copy of the DVD on Sri Lanka tourism.
Consulate General of Sri Lanka
Los Angeles
26 April 2013
