Sunday Times 2
Singular American honour for Sri Lanka
Dr. and Mrs. Walter Jayasinghe are seen here with the City Council President and the Officers of the Sri Lanka Foundation after receiving the proclamation
The Los Angeles City Council issued a proclamation this week, declaring a Sri Lanka Day. The Council will fly the Sri Lanka flag at the City Hall in Los Angeles On August 26 — the designated day.
It is a singular honour bestowed on Sri Lanka in recognition of the contribution made by the Sri Lankan community in Los Angeles. The United States is a nation of immigrants with many religions and ethnic groups and Los Angeles has welcomed new migrants who have brought with them a diversity of languages, religious and cultural practices. It is no surprise then that Los Angeles is the home for the second largest Sri Lankan community in the US.
Due to the first-rate educational system that was available free of charge in Sri Lanka, most of the community members in the city are professionals, including a significant number of healthcare workers and educators who constantly interact with the local citizenry.
Naturally, it is the centre where the biggest Sri Lankan celebrations take place. With the holding of the annual Sri Lankan celebrations, Sri Lanka has taken its rightful place among the ethnic festivals held in America. It is such community based citywide events that attracted the attention of the local public that resulted in according the due recognition to Sri Lanka.
The celebrations are sponsored and organised by the Sri Lanka Foundation, a brainchild of Dr. Walter Jayasinghe, a leading expatriate physician who came to the US in the early 1960s. In 2003, he established the Foundation to promote Sri Lankan cultural activities in the US and expose the American public to the many facets of the historical heritage and culture of Sri Lanka.
The Foundation’s premier event is the annual festival held in Pasadena. It is a day when the sights and sounds and the unique taste of Sri Lanka come alive.
It is the Foundation’s work spearheaded by its Founder Dr. Jayasinghe and his wife Aeshea along and the strong support of the Foundation President Dishan Jayasinghe and the diligent staff, that gave exposure to the community and brought about the recognition accorded by the designation of a Sri Lanka day in the City of Los Angeles, to be celebrated this year on the 26th of August.
The City Council proclamation was read and presented by the council president, Herb Wesson, Jr at a meeting of the City Council on December.
Councillo Gil Cedillo sponsored the proclamation in recognition of the community’s contribution to the city. Dr. Jayasinghe thanked the Council for the gracious proclamation.
The ceremony was followed by a festive reception sponsored by the Sri Lanka Foundation for the large number of Sri Lankans and others who attended the ceremony.
(The writer is Former Deputy Director General, United Nations, Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs)