Sri Lankan Embassy in US celebrates President

The Embassy of Sri Lanka planted a Japanese Maple tree on Monday as part of Sri Lanka’s national celebrations of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s 65th birthday and inauguration on 19 November.

Nationwide, more than 1.1 million trees were planted in Sri Lanka as part of the “Deyata Sevana” programme.

Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya presided over a flag-raising and tree planting ceremony in front of the Embassy Monday morning. The embassy staff planted trees at the embassy as well as at the official residence. Sri Lanka’s national anthem was played just before the tree-planting ceremony commenced. President Rajapaksa will be sworn in for a second, six-year term on 19 November.