By Yohan Perera   
At a time where it is repeatedly stressed that Sri Lanka needs to work closely with other nations, First lady Maithree Wickremesinghe called for diplomatic ties which would become connections of hearts, minds and souls.   

• Character of a nation consist not only of its geography and climate, origin, dominant culture, contemporary leaders in politics and also the calibre of its people 

Ms. Wickremesinghe highlighted this point at the swearing in of US Peace Corps volunteers in Colombo yesterday.   
“Character of a nation consist not only of its geography and climate, origin, dominant culture, contemporary leaders in politics and also the calibre of its people and connections made by those people, the connections of the hearts, minds, souls especially in an era when connectivity and reality is valued at the expense of human contacts, what would be more real and tangible or human,” she said.   
Ms. Wickremesinghe also called for digital whelm for the people of this nation while highlighting that it would be an opportunity for individual education achievement and mobility as well as a general drive for Sri Lankans for economic prospect   
US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Julie Chung said Sri Lankans are friends of America and the most important and lasting impact of this friendship has been personal bonds created between ordinary Americans and Sri Lankans. “Sri Lanka and America are friends and this is a relationship that will cherish. We benefit from from the legacy of generations of Sri Lankans and Americans who have nurtured this profound friendship,” she said. She told the volunteers to become cultural ambassadors in Sri Lanka as they promote better understanding of America.