Ms. Janki Kuruppu, Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Tea Board at the Ceylon Tea – Sri Lanka’s Gift to the World – a business forum organized at the Washington Hilton on September 20th, 2012
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Mr. Joe Simrany, President of the US Tea Council speaking at the business forum on Ceylon Tea – Sri Lanka’s Gift to the World organized at the Washington Hilton on September 20th, 2012
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Sri Lanka Embassy, Washington DC participated in the 5th annual Passport DC – Around the World Embassy Tour on Saturday (May 5). Over 2500 visitors toured the embassy premises as it opened its doors to the public from 10AM to 4 PM. The Chancery of the Embassy was created to depict a mosaic of Sri Lankan experiences to the visitors showcasing Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage.ATTRACTS OVER 2500 VISITORS TO THE SRI LANKA EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON DC Washington DC: Sri Lanka Embassy, Washington DC participated in the 5th annual Passport DC – Around the World Embassy Tour on Saturday (May 5). Over 2500 visitors toured the embassy premises as it opened its doors to the public from 10AM to 4 PM.
The Chancery of the Embassy was created to depict a mosaic of Sri Lankan experiences to the visitors showcasing Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. The authentic Sri Lankan hospitality was the highlight of the total visitor-experience with Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya and the staff members welcoming and entertaining the visitors throughout the program.
All visitors had the opportunity to enjoy the finest Pure Ceylon Tea with a choice of either hot or iced. Moreover all the guests were served with a spread of testy hot and spicy Sri Lankan cuisine. The staff members were on hand to brief the guests about Sri Lanka and responded to their queries. Tourism promotional materials and Pure Ceylon tea were distributed among the visitors.
Another attraction was the opportunity afforded for the visitors to dress in traditional Sri Lankan attire. The female staff members of the Embassy assisted the ladies to wear Sarees in both Kandian and Indian styles. Similarly, gents were given the opportunity to wear sarongs and shirts. Those visitors in Sarees, Sarongs and Shirts were seen enthusiastically taking pictures of themselves as a memento to remember this unique experience.
Passport DC is one of the main tourist events in Washington DC organized by Cultural Tourism DC, a non-governmental body destined to promote tourism highlighting the city’s immensely diverse culture and heritage. The Embassy of Sri Lanka participated at this important promotional event for the fourth consecutive year.
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Picture Captions:
01. American visitors collect Tourist promotional material on Sri Lanka during the Passport DC around the World Embassy Tour - 2012
02. A group of young visitors dressed in traditional Sri Lankan attires pose for a photograph
03. Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya (3rd right) and Minister Political of the Embassy Mrs. Wasantha Perera (far right) with a group of young visitors dressed in Sri Lankan costumes
04. The visitors to Sri Lanka embassy had the opportunity to try Sarees, Batik shirts and Sarongs on them
05. The long queue for the Vesak Dansela – a fair recreation of Sri Lankan crowds engaged in sightseeing on the same day
06. A Sri Lankan-American chef preparing Kottu Rotti for the visitors eagerly waiting to taste hot spicy Sri Lankan food.
07. Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya (right)with a young American visitor dressed in Saree and an Embassy employee (left) in traditional Sri Lankan attire
08. Female staff members of the embassy assist the visitors to try Sarees on them
09. Two family members of the Embassy staff helping a visitor to wear a Saree in Kandiyan style
10. Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States & Mexico Jaliya Wickramasuriya (2nd right), with Ms. Jan Du Plain , Embassy Liaison of Cultural Tourism DC , with two senior diplomats of the embassy Mr. Bandula Somasiri ,Minister Commercial (far tight) and Mr. K.D. Ranjith Minister Consular and Finance (far left)
Sri Lanka Embassy participated the 4th annual Embassy Chef challenge ; DC's premier international culinary competition organized by the Cultural Tourism DC. The event was held at the Ronald Reagan building on March 8.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya meets with guests at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, during the Passport DC embassy open house event in Washington, D.C.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka opened its doors to more than 1,000 visitors May 14 as part of the Passport DC 2011 cultural tourism program.
[image title="pr_passptdc_20may11" size="full" id="2904" align="none" linkto="http://slembassyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/pr_passptdc_20may11.jpg" ] Sri Lankan Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya meets with guests at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, during the Passport DC embassy open house event in Washington, D.C.[image title="pr_passptdc_1_20may11" size="full" id="2906" align="none" linkto="http://slembassyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/pr_passptdc_1_20may11.jpg" ] A young girl tries on a sari with help from an employee at the Embassy of Sri Lanka during Washington, D.C.'s Passport DC open house of foreign embassies. [image title="pr_passptdc_2_20may11" size="full" id="2909" align="none" linkto="http://slembassyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/pr_passptdc_2_20may111.jpg" ] American visitors sample Ceylon tea during Passport DC, Washington, D.C.'s annual open house of foreign embassies. The Embassy of Sri Lanka opened its doors to more than 1,000 visitors May 14 as part of the Passport DC 2011 cultural tourism program. Visitors to the embassy tasted Sri Lankan cuisine and Ceylon tea, tried on saris and sarong and wrote their names in Tamil and Sinhalese. The embassy staff discussed current Sri Lankan developments and history with visitors, who also watched a Sri Lankan travel video. Sri Lanka’s embassy was festooned with lights, banners and flags to welcome its guests. Passport DC sponsors an annual “Around the World Embassy Tour” that functions as an open house for Washington DC’s foreign embassies. Participants in the popular program may stroll along the famed Embassy Row and visit dozens of embassies. Passport DC 2011 is an exploration through Washington, DC’s international culture during the entire month of May. Now in its fourth year, Passport DC invites participants to experience a global journey without leaving the city. Featuring street festivals, open houses, embassy events, special performances, and much more, Passport DC explores the international community that is a vital part of DC culture.
