Lanka Embassy in Warsaw steps up public diplomacy activities

The Embassy of Sri Lanka, in Warsaw, continued its public outreach to young Polish students by conducting a Sri Lanka familiarisation session for fifth graders at the Monnet School in Warsaw.

Of interest to the enthusiastic young learners were aspects of Sri Lanka’s environment and wildlife conservation, its cuisine, geography, climate and traditional attire. The Sri Lankan envoy also discussed the exciting and beautifully illustrated children’s travel story titled, ‘Dzie? Dobry Sri Lanko!’ (Good Morning Sri Lanka!) by Katarzyna Szulik, and donated several copies of the book to the school library. Similar country familiarisation programmes will be held in schools and universities, beyond Warsaw, in the New Year.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka, to mark the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, joined Minister Anna Schmidt of Poland (Minister of Family and Social Policy) and the Women Ambassadors in Warsaw (WAW), to actively support and express solidarity for the ‘Orange the World’ global campaign to end violence against women and girls.

Handmade traditional ‘Lotus Lanterns,’ by the Embassy staff, and the ceramic artwork of Ambassador Dhammika Kumari Semasighe, made a significant mark at the ‘The Art of Diplomacy’ exhibition hosted by  the Old Orangery, Royal Lazienki Museum, Warsaw. An aspiring ceramic artist, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador was invited to participate on the aesthetic merit of her body of work. The annual exhibition was for art-gifted members of the diplomatic community from 13 countries, based in Warsaw. The Ambassador’s artwork, titled ‘Random Summer thoughts in clay,’ comprised of clay-pinch pots (handmade), fired with slips and glazes. Each abstract form on display was inspired by natural/organic elements observed during walks in the nature trails of Krakow, Poland, and were crafted at the ceramic studio Moja Siostra Alchemicus in Warsaw.

In order to enhance academic interest in Sri Lanka and to explore the possibility of setting up a Sri Lanka studies programme at the University of Warsaw, the Sri Lanka Mission actively participated in the ‘Meet the Ambassadors’ annual forum organised by the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the Warsaw University. During the event, Ambassador Semasinghe presented the book, ‘Eloquence in Stone: The Lithic Saga of Sri Lanka’, 2008, to Prof. Alojzy Zbigniew Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw.

The staff of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Warsaw and Ambassador Dhammika Kumari Semasinghe were invited to participate in the festivities at the ‘Grand Diwali Ball 2022’ hosted by the Tamil Sangam Association of Poland (TSAP). It was an important opportunity to interact and build bridges of friendship with the Tamil Community in Poland.

Ambassador Semasinghe said the Sri Lanka Mission in Warsaw will continue to combine trade, tourism and cultural promotion through its public outreach activities. The Mission plans to engage with the popular Polish public and private television channels, in 2023, to organise special programmes on Ceylon tea and spices. Discussions have also been successfully concluded with the Director Dr. Joanna Wasilewska of the Asia and Pacific Museum in Warsaw, to establish a permanent exhibition of Sri Lanka’s heritage art.