( May 2, 2015, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) FOREIGN MINISTER SAMARAWEERA: Good
morning, ladies and gentlemen. It has been a great honor and our
privilege to welcome the honorable John F. Kerry, Secretary of State of
the United States of America, to the historic Republic building, which
has been the home of the foreign minister of Sri Lanka since
independence. In fact, Secretary Kerry’s visit is a momentous occasion
for Sri Lanka, as it is the first official visit by a U.S. Secretary of
State in nearly half a century – 43 years to be precise. And I believe
that this important visit signifies the return of our little island
nation to the center stage of international affairs.