Jaliya Wickremasuriya an ideal choice as envoy to US

Jaliya Wickremasuriya, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador designate to Washington told ‘Asian Tribune’ that he will be reporting at the Duty Station by July 12 and said that he is expected to present his credentials to US President George Bush by the end of this month.

He was in Sri Lanka to face the High Posts Committee as well as for an orientation session at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The new Ambassador designate to USA is not a newcomer to America.

He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, for more than 10 years and he is a very successful businessman. Two years ago, he was appointed as Sri Lanka’s Consul General to Los Angels.

While in Los Angels he has travelled to all the eight American states which he was assigned to cover and met almost all the US Senators in those states and more than 20 Congressmen and briefed them of the political situation in Sri Lanka.

He also met members of the Sri Lankan community in all those States under the ‘Reaching out Program’ initiated by his predecessor Bernard Goonatileke.

The new Ambassador designate was talking to Asian Tribune on Sunday, just two hours before his departure to Los Angels.

He said when he was in Sri Lanka, he called on the Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya after paying homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic for invoking blessings prior to leaving for the US.

Before his departure he said he met his predecessor Bernard Goonatileke, the veteran diplomat, at his residence for a briefing session by the senior Sri Lankan diplomat who just returned back from Washington DC, after serving there for three years as the country’s most successful diplomat.

He said, he also met US Ambassador Robert O Blake at his office in the US Embassy in Colombo. When asked about the US Ambassador, Jaliya Wickremasuriya said that he is a lively diplomat and down to earth human being. He said that US Ambassador has told him to be in touch with him and even on a daily basis.

He also said that he was invited by US Ambassador Robert O Blake, as a guest to participate in the 232 Anniversary of Independence of the US, held at the US Ambassador’s official residence, in Colombo. He said it was one of his most memorable moments to be with such a great American diplomat.

Wickremasuriya said that he will continue with the ‘Reaching out Program’ once back in the US and also work closely with the Sri Lankan expatriates in America. Many in US say that Jaliya Wickremasuriya is doer and he has the knack for getting things done.