Sri Lankan Americans Coalition Launched

Maryland: The Coalition of Sri Lankan Americans (COSLA) is an association of those of Sri Lankan origin living in the US.

It is a non-profit organization, registered in the State of Maryland on January 23, 2007 and incorporated under the laws of the US as a recognized political organization.

The formation of COSLA was inspired by the call by Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the US, Bernard Goonetilleke at the Sri Lanka National Day in February 4, 2006.

COSLA is a political organization and its central mission will be the promotion of the identity and interests of Sri Lanka and of all Sri Lankan Americans. To this end, COSLA will seek to:

1. bring together all those of Sri Lankan origin living in the US cutting across ethnic, religious, political or professional lines;

2. promote Sri Lanka's national interests in the US;

3. strengthen the relationship between the US and Sri Lanka at the official and public levels building on the mutuality of interests on issues including democracy, combating terrorism, free trade, etc; and

4. provide credible information on developments in Sri Lanka to the US Administration, US Congress, think tanks, NGOs and the media and to engage those interested in the developments in Sri Lanka.

The organizational structure of COSLA will comprise of a core group of Sri Lankan Americans living in the Greater Washington area, who played the pioneering role in the formation of the COSLA and those who will serve as 'conveners' in the respective States.

Already 'conveners' have been identified for 15 States viz. California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.

February 4, 2007