Expatriates in US told:

Make Sri Lanka ‘Wonder of Asia’

by Shanika Sriyananda

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in the US Jaliya Wickremasuriya has called upon all lankans living in the US to help make the island nation a ‘Wonder of Asia”.

He said that terrorism which haunted Sri Lanka has been now defeated and the entire country is enjoying the dividends of peace.

Wickremasuriya outlined how Sri Lanka’s numerous major achievements in the area of post-conflict rebuilding and reconciliation over the past year were achieved. In his New Year message he said that people in Sri Lanka are happy to be free from the fear and anxiety of constant conflict.

“I call upon each and every one to make sure that the correct story about Sri Lanka is disseminated here in the United States, be it neighbour, a colleague, local civic leaders or your representatives in Washington.

I also believe that our nation’s future lies in the hands of our children. Let us engage our youth in learning about our motherland and become the promoters of our united nation.

The future had never looked so bright for our motherland”, he said.

Ambassador Wickramesuriya said that Sri Lanka had enjoyed the first full year of peace and unity, free of conflict and 2010 was a year of rebirth and progress in Sri Lanka and many people have played an instrumental role in the transition.

Thanking Sri Lankans who helped during the troubled times he invited them to assist Sri Lanka in the coming years and help bridge the divisions among communities to stand as Sri Lankans.

Wickramesuriya said that there had not been a terrorist incident or loss of life since May 2009, the end of the conflict and at present the country is reaping the benefits of the newly dawn peace after 30 years.

He said that though the detractors of peace and the promoters of terrorism project negative stories to tarnish the image of the country the international confidence on Sri Lanka’s economy would prove the success of the story behind the nation in the post conflict era.

“Sri Lanka is truly on its way to become the ‘Wonder of Asia’ and within one year of defeating terrorism and unifying the country, the economy has seen unprecedented growth.

Sri Lanka’s growing economy is the second-fastest in Asia. Sri Lanka’s stock market was Asia’s top performer last year. The per capita income in Sri Lanka more than doubled in the past four years and the IMF upgraded the nation to “middle income emerging market” status. In 2010 Sri Lanka recorded highs in external reserves while with record lows in unemployment and inflation”, he said.

He said Sri Lanka has a strong, solid diplomatic relationship with the US. government and believed that support for Sri Lanka was growing even stronger.