Sri Lanka looks to deepen ties with the United States

The Government says it is?looking to deepen ties with the United States and appointed a new official for this purpose.

The Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington said Sri Lanka?s deepening political and economic partnership with the United States, and it?increasing people to people contacts require further expansion of Sri Lankan representation throughout the United States.

Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam handed over the Commission of Appointment to Ronald James Sorini to serve as the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in the State of Illinois.

Illinois is home to a substantial number of Sri Lankan?Americans, including a sizable student population. The state is also home to several major US companies, which have business interests in Sri Lanka.

Sorini brings into the position over a decade of experience in high-level positions in the federal government at the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

In 1989, Sorini was appointed by President Bush and confirmed by the US Senate to the position of Chief Textile Negotiator at the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), holding the rank of Ambassador. He is a founding partner of Sorini, Samet & Associates, a leading international trade firm in Washington D.C. (Colombo Gazette)