The ‘open house’ launched under a special event, “Passport DC”, was organized by Events DC in partnership with over 60 foreign Missions based in Washington D.C. including the Embassy of Sri Lanka was a huge success. This month-long festival named “Passport DC” held annually in May pays tribute to Washington D.C.’s thriving international diplomatic community and its lively and varied culture. As part of the festival, also known as the ‘International Cultural Awareness Month’ in Washington D.C., is devoted to ‘Embassy open houses’ on a day set apart of the month.
‘Passport DC’ showcases to Washington a wide range of performances, discussions, and exhibits of the respective country. It has become very popular among Americans in the Greater Washington area (Washington D.C., State of Maryland and Northern Virginia, and surrounding metropolitan area), as this day set apart for culture gives them a rare opportunity to enjoy many aspects of foreign cultures and traditions of many countries in a single day.
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington D.C. thus opened its doors for American visitors as part of ‘Passport DC’’s ‘Around the World Embassy Tour’. Upon the direction of Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington, Mahinda Samarasinghe, the Embassy made elaborate arrangements to promote Sri Lanka as an exciting tourist destination. Over 4,200 US nationals visited the Embassy during the event.
A photographic exhibition of over 80 colorful photographs titled “Beauty of Sri Lanka” depicting the ancient cultural heritage, natural beauty with a special emphasis on wild life and the people of Sri Lanka, was presented by the “America – Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society Los Angeles” led by Suriya Perera, Andy Samarasena, Lakshitha Karunarathna, Sameera Kotelawala and Riznad Hussain, which had captured the attention of the attendees.
The visitors were treated to traditional Sri Lankan hospitality and were able to sample authentic Sri Lankan cuisine having witnessed live cooking demonstrations of preparing of Kottu Roti and Hoppers,and Rice & Curry. The Embassy also offered all the visitors a freshly brewed cup of hot or iced Ceylon tea sponsored by “Basilur(Sri Lanka)” and “QTrade Teas & Herbs(California, USA)”.
Traditional Sri Lankan dances depicting up-country, low-country and northern dancing styles and drums showcased the vibrant diversity of Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage. The performances were provided at regular intervals by students from four local academies led by Chathuri Wickramarachchi, Lanka Mudannayake, Indika Attanayake and Achila Perera, and was akey attraction that captivated guests throughout the day.
The Embassy made special arrangements for the “Serendib” band, led by Kutila Dias, to perform Sri Lankan songs throughout the day, supported by local Sri Lankan singers. The performances captivated the crowd, offering a rich experience that highlighted Sri Lanka’s musical heritage.
Another highlight organized by the Embassy to mark the occasion, for the visitors was to get them clad in traditional Sri Lankan attire for a photo opportunity. Many American ladies queued up to get themselves draped in Kandyan sarees, while the men tried on vivid batik sarongs and shirts. Sri Lankan traditional handicrafts comprising of wooden masks, drums, bags, batik wear, brass items, paintings, Ceylon spices and tea were on display in three separate stalls set up at the Embassy garden, sponsored by Sri Lankan-American vendors that proved another major attraction for the visitors. A Sri Lankan-American-owned company offered tourism packages that captured the interest of attendees eager to explore Sri Lanka’s rich cultural heritage and scenic landscapes.
The Embassy delighted visitors by presenting them with complimentary packs of Ceylon tea, generously sponsored by Basilur Tea (Sri Lanka).This gesture contributed towards the promotion of the rich heritage of Ceylon tea among attendees.
On a request made by the Embassy, voluntary support was extended by the members of six Sri Lankan community based Associations in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. The Sri Lanka Association of Washington DC, Sri Lanka Ranga Kala Kavaya, Kala Lanka Foundation, Ape Kattiya/American Sri Lankan Friendship Foundation, Bethesda Api, Organization of Sri Lankan Americans for Sri Lanka and Friends of Sri Lanka of Greater Washington Area had given their assistance to ensure the smooth running of this day-long event that attracted a large number of visitors throughout the day.
