Parliamentarian Chandima Weerakkody has been elected as the President of the Sri Lanka-USA Parliamentary Friendship Association, the Parliament of Sri Lanka said in a statement.
The special meeting to elect the office bearers related to the Ninth Parliament of the Sri Lanka – USA Parliamentary Friendship Association was held at the Parliament yesterday (23) under the chairmanship of the Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.
The US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung joined the event as a special guest. Minister and the Leader of the House of Parliament Susil Premajayantha, and the Secretary General of the Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake were also present at this event.
Meanwhile, MP (Major) Sudarshana Denipitiya was elected as the new Secretary to the Sri Lanka-USA Parliamentary Friendship Association and State Minister A. Aravindh Kumar, and MPs Thalatha Athukorala and Velu Kumar were elected as Vice Presidents.
Furthermore, MP (Dr.) Nalaka Godahewa was elected as the Treasure and MP Charles Nirmalanathan was elected as the Assistant Secretary to the Friendship Association.
Addressing the meeting, the Speaker said that the decades-long bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and the United States of America will be further strengthened through this Association. Furthermore, the Speaker expressed his gratitude for the support extended by the United States of America to Sri Lanka
Addressing the Association, US Ambassador Julie Chung congratulated the new office bearers and stated that through the establishment of this friendship association, parliamentary exchanges and mutual cooperation between the two countries will be strengthened.
Many Members of Parliament representing the Government and the opposition were present at this occasion.
