At an all around went to service at the Pacific Club of Hawaii, Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam extended a warm welcome to Bede Dhammika Cooray as the new Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka for the state of Hawaii. The introduction of the commission of appointment to the new Honorary Consul was gone before by a festival to recognize the 69th Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka with the investment of senior delegates of the Hawaiian administration, judiciary, diplomatic community, U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), East West Center, Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS) and the Sri Lankan American people group.

Talking at the occasion, Ambassador Kariyawasam highlighted the latest exponential development inside the United States-Sri Lanka members of the family, and thanked the people of the United States, particularly the ones from Hawaii, for turning into partners with Sri Lanka in its challenging and transformative adventure to increase as a current democracy, integrating with the sector for business and exchange, in peace and friendship. Sri Lanka completely perceives the significance of Hawaii and the establishments situated in Honolulu for further advancement of two-sided relations with the United States.

Honorary Consul Bede Cooray speaking at the function stated, “tonight was a wonderful opportunity to bring together the Sri Lankan community and distinguished guests from the Hawaii community to celebrate our nation.  I am committed for promoting more contacts between Hawaii and Sri Lanka.”

The program of the night included religious observances directed by the clergy, the lighting of the oil lamp by authorities in the Sri Lankan American people group, and discourse on Hawaii-Sri Lanka relations by Poet Laureate Professor Wimal Dissanayake, and traditional Kandyan and hula dance performances by youthful entertainers of the Sri Lanka-American people group.