Thu, 2012-08-30 03:08 — editor
Daya Gamage reports to Asian Tribune
Santa Monica, California 29 August (Asiantribune.com):
Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, President Sri Lanka Foundation California
addressing the gathering. Richard Bloom, Mayor of Santa Monica and Sri Lanka
Consul General for western States Dr. Hector Weerasinghe on the podium
Marketing Sri Lanka's image abroad using the basics of public affairs, public
diplomacy and strategic communication, as Sri Lankan watchers have observed,
seems to be a dueling task for Sri Lankan authorities. This obstacle was
overcome in the populous city of Santa Monica in California on Saturday, August
25 by the launching of Sri Lanka Day-Expo 2012 which attracted non-immigrant
Americans from the length and breadth the State of California many of whom once
entertained mixed feelings about this South Asian nation which they connected
to terrorism, suicide bombers and human rights abuses.
This Asian Tribune reporter got a glimpse of the thoughts entertained by
the Americans who attended this California's foremost Sri Lankan organization
Sri Lanka Foundation-organized and sponsored Sri Lanka.
To one American couple Sri Lanka is governed by a repressive regime. To
another the minorities have no space and are brutalized by the regime. War
crimes and human rights issues came up in between.
But most of the American to whom this writer talked were unaware of the
brutality the separatist movement Tamil Tigers unleashed for decades. They were
unaware of the fact that refugees belonging to the minority Tamil community
after the terrorist movement was defeated were all settled and given government
patronage to have upward mobility of their lives.
When explained to an American who was fairly knowledgeable about Sri
Lankan scenario that the government's main objective was to socially and
economically uplift the Tamil majority districts in the north and east of Sri
Lanka he entertained extra interest in probing much deeper.
And Asian Tribune provided the answers.
This was all possible for this writer to interact with a fairly large
group of Americans due to the initiative taken by California's premier
expatriate organization Sri Lanka Foundation to organize the Sri Lanka Day-Expo
2012 that brought many aspects of Sri Lanka to the people of California.
Most of the credit should go to Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, the founder and
president of the organization.
As the president of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa commented in his message to the
launching of the Expo 2012 this event brought together an exceptional gathering
of Sri Lankan businesses, products and services and cuisines in a remarkable
showcasing of Sri Lanka's investment opportunities, trade and commerce
possibilities, and cultural and tourist attractions.
The very large gathering, especially the non-immigrant Americans, had a
very rich insight into Sri Lanka's centuries-old traditions, civility, cultural
practices, her interaction with the international community, enormous trade,
investment and commerce with the United States and the country's openness to
the wide world.
The Sri Lanka's Consul General for the Western States of the United
States Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, who just completed one year in his diplomatic
assignment, uses his down-to-earth public affairs, public diplomacy and
strategic communication skills to market his country's image in this part of
the nation.
This writer who has been in such capacities for well over two decades
recognized Dr. Weerasinghe's skills in promoting Sri Lanka in the United
States, and marketing what Sri Lanka has achieved since the defeat of the
terrorist Tamil Tigers in 2009.
The Consulate General staff were available for the smooth operation of
the event which had a diplomatic fervor.
The Sri Lanka Day-Expo 2012, six years in succession, was an excellent
even that exposed Sri Lanka to the Americans some of whom were ill-informed or
under-informed about Sri Lanka.
The colorful parade with Kandyan and Kavadi dancers, depicting the
glorious Kandy Perahera (Pageant), youthful dancers made the daylong event -
started at ten in the morning that went into the wee hours - gave extra boost
to the event.
The Sri Lankan cuisine were for everyone's palate, and the Tea Board
provided the delicious Ceylon Tea.
During the late afternoon, there were song and dance on the podium. The
announcers continually provided many aspects of Sri Lankan life, culture and
her long history. This segment attracted the non-immigrant Americans to get a
better understanding of this South Asian nation.
These events turned them to this writer to raise many questions and find
answers about the current situation in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Day-Expo 2012 brought Sri Lanka directly to the Americans of
Southern California and to the broader segment of the Americans in this most
populous state of the United States. And, it brought the expatriate Sri Lankan
community together for a common purpose - enjoying the fellowship and marketing
Sri Lanka.
- Asian Tribune -
