Independence Day Remarks by Ambassador Patricia Butenis

July 4, 2011

Good evening.  Minister Susil Premajayantha, Honored Guests,

Welcome to Jefferson House and thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate the 235th anniversary of U.S. independence. 

It is nice to see so many familiar faces tonight.  I would also like to give a special welcome to everyone here for the first time to celebrate our Fourth of July.   I can tell those of you who were here last year by the umbrellas you are carrying.  I’d also like to thank the very generous American companies, which you saw listed on the banners as you walked in, for helping to sponsor tonight’s event.  And last but by no means least, I must thank everyone from my Embassy, who worked so hard to make this event possible tonight.

Each year we choose a theme for our national day celebration.  Last year, we highlighted the partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka in the past, present and future.  And in my remarks, I spoke about how the relationship between our two countries, which dates back to the earliest days of the United States, is broad, dynamic, mutually beneficial, and ever expanding.

This year our celebration highlights youth.  There are many reasons.  First, the United Nations has designated 2011 as the International Year of Youth--and I know that Sri Lanka has hosted a number of events for the occasion.  Second, 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of when our youngest elected President, John F. Kennedy, launched two initiatives that have improved the lives of people around the world, especially young people:  the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Peace Corps.  And finally, the theme of youth is particularly relevant for Sri Lanka.  Roughly fifty percent of Sri Lanka’s population is under the age of thirty.   That means that half of the country lacks a memory of pre-war Sri Lanka.  And in many ways, it is up to this half of the population to define a new peaceful, united and democratic Sri Lanka. 

Whether in Sri Lanka or in the United States, youth hold the keys to the future.  And tonight, among our guests, we’ve invited a number of young people who are making valuable contributions in the new Sri Lanka.   They represent just a few of the many young Sri Lankans who are proving without a doubt that they are not only tomorrow’s leaders, they are also today’s leaders. 

Here tonight, for example, are several representatives from some of the country’s most active youth organizations:  Sri Lanka Unites, Rotaract, the Weeramantry Center and Stitch to name only a few.  They have organized national conferences with young people from all regions and communities of the country; they led donation drives following the floods earlier this year; and they have launched exchange programs that bring kids from one region to another for community service projects.  The Embassy has provided financial support for their efforts, but it’s their commitment, ideas, and dedication that make them the leaders of today. 

I mentioned that USAID is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.  In Sri Lanka, in fact, U.S. assistance programs pre date USAID, going back 55 years.  Today much of USAID’s work focuses on youth and USAID works closely with the Sri Lankan Government, civil society, and young leaders to help Sri Lanka’s young people build a better future.  Recently, for example, USAID organized a job fair in Vavuniya.  As a result of the event, more than 3,200 young people received offers of employment with apparel manufacturers, produce suppliers, private banks, insurance agencies, and other employers.  Another example, after the devastating floods earlier this year, USAID brought together youth from southern Sri Lanka to help their peers in the North.  Working hand-in-hand around Kilinochchi, it was the first time that most of the youth from the South had travelled to the North

Our American Center also focuses most of its programs on the younger generations.  Each month, at our library in Colombo and at our American Corners in Jaffna, Oluvil and Kandy, we organize essay contests, reading clubs, art workshops, and film screenings.  We also run a number of English language teaching programs and host a variety of Sri Lankan and American speakers who lead discussions with Sri Lankan youth on a range of topics.  The Embassy also links the young people of both our countries.  Last year, a young women’s rugby team from the US played their counterparts in Sri Lanka---and was handily defeated, I might add, although I note that the Sri Lankan team had several women soldiers on their team.  And this year, students from Elon University in North Carolina and Vanderbilt University in Tennessee traveled to Sri Lanka to work on environmental projects and to teach English classes in rural schools.

In conclusion, young Americans and young Sri Lankans alike serve as role models for us all.  At the same time, believe it or not, they can’t do it alone—we from the older generations have a critical role to play.  It is our memories and experience  that can help youth unlock the doors to the future and serve as motivation and inspiration to build a more prosperous tomorrow.   

Mr. Minister, honored guests, I thank you again for coming.

I’d like to now raise a glass to Sri Lanka and to the young people of our two countries, who will ensure that our friendship will continue to grow for generations to come.