Above: US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung in conversation with the students.
US Embassy in Sri Lanka on Monday celebrated the graduation of 90 secondary school students from Jaffna, Trincomalee, and Nuwara Eliya who completed the US-funded English Access Scholarship Programme.
The ceremony, held in Galle, featured US Ambassador Julie Chung and Prof. Gamani Fonseka, Director of Smart International Professionals for Leadership Education (SIPLEE), who presented certificates to the graduates. The free two-year programme, implemented in partnership with SIPLEE, provides intensive English language and leadership training to economically disadvantaged youth, expanding their educational and career opportunities while strengthening people-to-people ties between the United States and Sri Lanka, the US Embassy in Sri Lanka said in a media release.
At the graduation ceremony, Access students showcased their growing confidence and English proficiency by serving as Masters of Ceremony, delivering speeches, performing a short play, and singing. US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung praised their accomplishments, highlighting the programme’s broader impact: “Programmes like Access do more than teach English—they build leadership. These students are developing the communication skills, confidence, and global mindset that will help them succeed in any field they choose, from technology to public service. It’s about equipping the next generation with the tools they need to lead in Sri Lanka and beyond.” The United States supports initiatives like Access because empowering young people through education and opportunity creates a world that is stronger, safer, and more prosperous—for both our nations and the global community.
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