CONTENTS

January 2014

The American Center, 44 Galle Road, Colombo 3

Telephone: 2498100 Telefax: 2498101 Email: amcentersl@state.gov

srilanka.usembassy.gov www.facebook.com/usembassycolombosl www.youtube.com/USEmbassySrilanka

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Presentation on “Digital Libraries”

Access Students Celebrates Xmas

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Public Lecture on “Global Trends in

Library and Information Science”

Kandy Youth meet with IRO

Book Reading at S. Thomas’

College in Mount Lavinia

Page 4

Strengthening Language Skills

Through Storytelling English Enrichment Course in

Jaffna

Students in Negombo Receives

Access Scholarships

Page 5

“Learn About America” Essay

Competition

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USAID in Action

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Movie Screenings in February

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Concert with Soul

Sounds

The complex harmonies of American gospel

music that lifted up the U.S. Civil Rights

movement in the 1960s inspired a Colombo

audience to clap and

sing along with joy when Ambassador

Michele Sison hosted a concert by Sri Lankan

gospel choir Soul Sounds to

commemorate Martin Luther King Day on

January 15, 2014. The chorus belted out American gospel songs and

Sri Lankan classics by Pandit Amaradeva and Dr. Arunthathy Sri Ranganathan on themes of peace and harmony. Ambassador Sison

paid tribute to Sri Lankans who emulate Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence as they pursue social justice and reconciliation. Guests

included civil society leaders, youth activists, renowned musicians, diplomats, parliamentarians and media figures. The Soul Sounds

choir conducted by Professor Mark Wilson and directed by Soundarie David Rodrigo conveyed a powerful message of unity and

reconciliation through their exceptional performance.

Upcoming Events . . . . . .

January 28, 2014, 5:00 pm

A lecture on “Digitally Augmented

Making (D.A.M.): The Relationship

Between Advanced Technology

and Design” by Tristan Al-

Haddad, Assistant Professor,

School of Architecture at the

Georgia Institute of Technology,

will be held at the Lakshman

Kadirgamar Institute for

International Relations and

Strategic Studies, Colombo 7. Call

011 2498163 for more details.

January 29, 2014, 6:00 pm

The American Center in

collaboration with the SLASSCOM will host a web-chat on

“Crowdfunding Your Startup

Venture” at the US-SL Fulbright Commission auditorium, Colombo

3.

Call 249 8128 or email to nowzadaj@state.gov to get more

details. The flyer with panelists' names available at http://goo.gl/

FTPRW5

Week-end Movies in February.

Every Saturday at 2:30 pm @ the American Center

Auditorium.

February 1: Disney’s Ruby

Bridges

February 8: Turbo

February 15: Finding Nemo

February 22: Beast of the Southern Wild

Entrance is free! Call 011 2498146 for more details.

Continued on page 5

Soul Sounds choir singing Sinhala and Tamil songs honoring Pandit Amaradeva and Dr. Arundathy Sri Ranganathan.

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American Center Newsletter

January 2014

http://srilanka.usembassy.gov

American Center Newsletter

American Center Hosts a Presentation on “Digital Libraries”

On January 7, 2014, Ms. Beth Sandore Namachchivaya, Associate Librarian for Research

and Technology and Associate Dean of Libraries at

the University of Illinois Library at Urbana-

Champaign delivered a presentation on “Digital Libraries: Access and long-term digital preservation

challenges in research libraries”, at the American Center Colombo. This lecture was connected to the

American Corner in Kandy via Digital Video Conferencing facilities and also screened

there. Librarians and students who follow library and information sciences courses found the

presentation useful, as it demonstrated new

technologies in creation, retrieval, usage and dissemination of digitized information.

Newly appointed Information Resource Officer for

Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka Bill Middleton introduced Ms. Namachchivya, and her

lecture was well attended by librarians representing local libraries, including academic, research,

specialized and national libraries.

Access Students Celebrates Xmas

The Students of the U.S. Embassy’s Access Centers

in Tissamaharama, Matara, Polonnaruwa and, Mullaitivu held events to celebrate Christmas. The

Students of the Access Center in Tissamaharama held a Christmas event at the Sandagirigama

Elders’ home on December 28, 2013. Thirty students, Access Teachers and parents participated

in a clean-up of the dormitories and garden of the

elders’ home. The students spent time talking and singing with the senior residents.

The students of the Matara and Polonnaruwa

centers designed decorations, sang Christmas Carols and watched Christmas movies. A student

dressed as Santa also visited the Polonnaruwa Access center and gave gifts to the students.

On December 26, 2013, the Matara Access center

students engaged in a full day of fun and activity celebrating Christmas. The students received

refreshments and gifts from Santa Clause.

Polonnaruwa Matara

Mullaitivu

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American Center Newsletter

January 2014

http://srilanka.usembassy.gov

American Center Newsletter

Public Lecture on “Global trends in Library and Information Science”

On January 9, 2014 American Corner (AC) Kandy

hosted a public lecture on “Global Trends in Library

and Information Science” by William Middleton,

State Department’s Information Resource officer covering South Asia. Mr. Middleton discussed

changing library trends worldwide and introduced the eLibraryUSA information resource available at

the AC in Kandy with 40 online databases, large number of books, encyclopedias for children and

youth, English learning tools for children, youth and adults.

The audience including Library professionals, students and the public appreciated the free use of

AC resources including Internet available for the community in Kandy.

Kandy Youth meet with IRO

Students following the ‘English Enrichment Course’

and Youth Club members of the American Corner (AC) in Kandy met with William Middleton, State

Department’s Information Resource officer covering South Asia and discussed their interests in sports

activities and English learning for higher education. These young people are very enthusiastic users of

the AC facilities and have a keen interest in doing

community services for the less privileged children of Kandy including environment awareness

programs. Mr. Middleton discussed ways in which they could improve their English skills and take an

active part in community service by using the Mobile Library of the D.S. Senananayake Public

Library which reaches out to rural communities.

The students were very thankful for the advice and

are happy to be involved in the AC programs serving the needs of the Kandy community

supported by the U.S. Embassy.

Book Reading at S. Thomas’ College in Mount

Lavinia

Embassy Intern Ms. Lindsay Kermisch visited S.

Thomas’ College in Mount Lavinia on January 21, 2014, as part of the Embassy Speaker program.

Students enjoyed her lively reading of ‘The Polar Express’ and discussed the characters depicted in

the story. Students showed great interest in learning about the United States, and some who

had visited the United States shared their experiences.

Lower school Headmistress Mrs. Janitha Peiris thanked the Embassy for providing this beneficial

opportunity for students to interact with a native speaker.

Students finding the United States on the globe with Lindsay Kermish.

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American Center Newsletter

January 2014

http://srilanka.usembassy.gov

American Center Newsletter

Strengthening Language Skills Through Storytelling

On December 28th, 2013, Mickie Crume and her daughter, Jordan, read to children as part of the

American Center’s “Readers are Leaders” reading program. This month’s books included "Rikki-Tikki-

Tavi" by Rudyard Kiplin and "The Story of Ruby Bridges" by Robert Coles. Children enjoyed listening

to the stories, and shared their reading experiences during the reading hour as well.

The “Readers Are Leaders” reading club was started

in January 2010 in order to help develop a taste for

reading amongst children, and to help strengthen their language skills. It continues to be an ongoing

and successful part of the American Center’s offerings, and meets the third Saturday of each

month.

English Enrichment Course in Jaffna

On January 7, 2014 over 60 students took the

English language placement test to see if they qualified for one of the 35 spots in the ‘English

Enrichment Course,’ sponsored by the American Corner Jaffna. The placement test took place at the

Jaffna Public Library, where classes will be held for the selected students by the English teacher, Mr.

Harry Gnanarajan. The selected students will be

participating in this four-month course and will be awarded certificates at the end after taking the final

examination.

Supported by the U.S. Embassy, this course is offered for students seeking to enhance their

English language skills for higher studies purposes.

Students in Negombo Receives Access Scholarships

Cultural Affairs Officer Dawn Suni visited the

U.S. Embassy’s Access Center in Negombo for the inauguration ceremony on December 19th,

2013, and awarded 30 Access scholarships to the students from Bosco pura. Students are

selected for these scholarships based on their academic potential and willingness to study

hard to learn English.

The Embassy sponsors 12 Access Centers

across Sri Lanka.

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American Center Newsletter

January 2014

http://srilanka.usembassy.gov

American Center Newsletter

Monthly Essay Competition

Essay Competition for School Children on the

theme of Learn About America

The American Center has organized an essay

competition for school children, the results of which will be published in the Junior Observer of the

Sunday Observer.

The monthly essay topic is for children in two age

categories 12-15 years and 16-18 years.

Each age group is given a monthly topic related to

the United States of America and is asked to write an essay with a minimum word count. The students

can conduct research for their essay at the American Center Library in Colombo, at the

American Corners in Kandy and Jaffna, or from sources on IIP Digital, a very good internet

resource with information on the United States, its

culture, history, literature, politics, tourist

attractions and much more.

The first three winners in each age group will be

given a selection of American books, a lifetime membership to the American Center Library, and a

certificate signed by the U.S. Ambassador. A prize

giving ceremony will be held at the American Center Colombo every two months.

Essay topics for March 2014 are as follows:

12-15 years: Discuss how similar Dr. Martin

Luther King’s non-violent path to gaining equal rights for African Americans in the US was to the

Indian Independence Movement of Mahathma

Gandhi in India. (750 words)

16-18 years: In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King became the youngest person to receive the Nobel

Peace Prize for his work to end racial segregation

and racial discrimination. What lessons can young people today learn from non-violent movements

and the ability of youth to create positive change? (1000 words)

Please see the Junior Observer of the Sunday

Observer for more details. Closing date March 31, 2014.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration . . . . . From page 1

Narrators honored Dr. King by reading excerpts of

his speeches. Narrators included Sonali Wanigabaduge, a lawyer, TV news anchor and

writer; Ishan Jalill, a disability rights activist, UN Volunteer and member of the International Youth

Task Force; and Dr. Jehan Perera, Executive Director of National Peace Council, an NGO that

upholds the values of non-violence, respect for human rights and the free expression of ideas.

Pandit Amaradeva appreciating the rendering of his song ‘Patu Adahas’ by the Soul Sounds choir.

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American Center Newsletter

January 2014

http://srilanka.usembassy.gov

USAID in Action

U.S. Government Support for Bar Association of Sri Lanka

On January 16, 2014, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, through its development arm, the USAID,

announced its new program to support the Bar Association of Sri Lanka. With the signing of a

Memorandum of Understanding, USAID will sponsor

a Bar Association program entitled “Civil Society

Initiatives to Support the Rule of Law.” This three-year program will enable the U.S. to foster further

linkages between the Sri Lanka Bar and U.S. state bar association. This program will also support

continuing professional legal and judicial level education, strengthen legal aid services, and bolster

the research and advocacy role of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka.

“I am so pleased to support important stakeholders in the Sri Lankan legal system, such as the Bar

Association of Sri Lanka,” said Ambassador Michele Sison at the signing ceremony. “We are proud to

continue our longstanding partnership with civil society in ways that strengthen democratic

institutions, support the rule of law, and promote an independent judicial system. In this regard we

can help further Sri Lanka’s efficacy of the legal

system and the administration of justice.” This grant will also assist with a law library renovation,

the refurbishment of the Bar Association auditorium, and the organization of a Labor Law

Conference in February 2014.

U.S. Government Helps to Revive Communities

with $1.5 Million USD Grant

On January 24, 2014, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, through its development arm, the USAID,

announced a new program to revive the fishery community in the Maradankerny Division of

Jaffna. This initiative is part of a significant USAID livelihoods project worth $1.5 million USD

(approximately SLR196 million) that focuses on

empowering economic opportunities and accelerating permanent resettlement for many

displaced families in the North.

“We know this community has repeatedly faced the hardship of rebuilding lives after numerous

displacements,” Ambassador Sison said while speaking at the opening ceremony, accompanied

by Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries and

Agriculture of the Northern Provincial Council, Mr. R. Varatheeswaran. “The U.S. Government, in

partnership with all of you, is committed to helping restore livelihoods by providing boats and nets that

will benefit over 200 fishing families in this community.”

The project stretches beyond Maradankerny

Division to support over 2,775 direct beneficiaries throughout the Northern Province. In partnership

with Sevalanka, the project includes improving livelihood conditions for rice farmers, strengthening

basic nutrition and food security, and providing transitional shelter and safe drinking water wells.

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American Center Newsletter

January 2014 Film Screenings at the American Center

February 2013 (Theme: Black History Month)

February 11 - Driving Miss Daisy (99 minutes)

Winner of the Academy Award for best picture of 1989, this

gracefully moving drama, adapted from the hit play by Alfred

Uhry, chronicles the 25-year friendship between a stubborn, aging

Southern widow (Jessica Tandy) and her loyal chauffeur (Morgan

Freeman). At first, the self-sufficient Miss Daisy is reluctant to

accept the services of a chauffeur, but Hoke is quiet, wise, and

tolerant, and as the years pass the unlikely friends develop a deep

mutual respect and admiration.

February 18 - Ray (153 minutes)

Jamie Foxx's uncannily accurate performance isn't the only good

thing about Ray. Riding high on a wave of Oscar buzz, Foxx

proved himself worthy of all the hype by portraying blind R&B

legend Ray Charles in a warts-and-all performance that Charles

approved shortly before his death in June 2004. Despite a few

dramatic embellishments of actual incidents, the film does a

remarkable job of summarizing Charles's strengths as a musical

innovator and his weaknesses as a philandering heroin addict who

recorded some of his best songs while struggling with severe

addiction.

February 25 - Do the Right Thing (120 minutes)

It's the hottest day of the summer. You can do nothing, you can

do something, or you can...Do the Right Thing. Directed by

visionary filmmaker Spike Lee, Do the Right Thing is one of the

most thought-provoking and groundbreaking films of the last 20

years. The controversial story centers around one scorching inner-

city day, when racial tensions reach the boiling point in a tough

Brooklyn neighborhood.

Movies start promptly at 6:00 pm every Tuesday. Seating is

limited and is first-come, first-served. Please contact the American

Center at amcentersl@state.gov or at (11) 249-8146 with any

questions. Entrance free!