Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya informed the student how the Embassy works and what his duties are in Washington. He also added that the Embassy staff has frequently met with members of Congress and Senior officials from the U.S. Government Departments and Institutions.

He emphasized that efforts to de-mine Northern villages, farm fields and to resettle displaced families were top priorities in the reconstruction and rehabilitation effort.

The Ambassador encouraged the students by stating that while visiting officials sites and organizations in Washington, D.C., they too were Ambassadors of Sri Lanka.

“As future leaders you are representatives of our country,” the Ambassador said. “What you say and do is a reflection on Sri Lanka.”

After their visit to the Embassy, the students toured the U.S. Department of State, Congress, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The students visited Washington as part of the Presidential Classroom education series. The Presidential Classroom program, which began in 1968, sponsors trips to Washington, D.C. for talented high school students from the U.S. and abroad. So far, the program has provided trips for 120,000 students over four decades.