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Three American Senators made a brief visit to Sri Lanka on April 14, 2006. Senator Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Senator Lamar ALexander of Tennessee and Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia paid a call on the President and Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa at their ancestral family home in Weeraketiya.

The congressional delegation's primary focus was learning more about foreign educational systems and the implications to U.S. competitiveness in the emerging world market. Tsunami relief, landmines and bilateral relations were other issues that the group examined.

A news release from the US Embassy in Colombo said:

"Senator Enzi delivered greeting on behalf of the American people on Tamil and Sinhalese New Years, and President Rajapaksa offered his guests traditional New Years sweets. The delegation expressed their sympathies to the families of the victims of recent terrorist acts. The delegation also expressed hope that the two sides could find a way back to constructive talks in Geneva.

President Rajapaksa and the delegation then inaugurated a tsunami housing project in Tangalle, constructed by the Dutch organisation Terre des Hommes. Together President Rajapaksa and Senator Enzi cut the ribbon on one of the project's 50 new houses given to tsunami victims.

Prior to visiting the President, the delegation met Sri Lankan deminers and observed a mine detecting dog named Wyoming discover a mine at the Sri Lankan Army's Humanitarian Demining School in Embilipitiya.

Senator Enzi and his wife Diana created Children Against Land Mines Program (CHAMPS) to raise awareness and funds for mine action. The dog Wyoming serves in Sri Lanka thanks to the money those children raised.

The delegation concluded their trip by opening a new U.S. funded a children's park in Tangalle as part of program to open 85 new parks around Sri Lanka. The parks are intended to help children recover through normal childhood activities.

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