US Embassy launches American Corner in Matara

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera launch the American Corner in Matara, in partnership with the Matara Chamber of Commerce and Industry  

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera launched a new American Corner in Matara on 26 February, at the Matara Chamber of Commerce and Industry at 149 Hakmana Road.  

The American Corner Matara promotes entrepreneurship, and provides Sri Lanka’s brightest young minds the space and resources to innovate and to develop ideas from concept to reality.  Offering courses on topics such as entrepreneurship, English skills, and coding, as well as information about the United States, the American Corner joins similar centres in Kandy, Jaffna, and Colombo.  All programs and courses at the American Corners are free of charge, as is participation in the Corners’ Youth Forums.  The American Corner Matara is open 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Tuesday through Sunday.  

Calling the American Corner Matara “an idea incubator,” Ambassador Teplitz described the centre as “an opportunity for youth throughout the Southern Province to create a prototype with our 3D printer, learn business English so they can market it to investors, and discover how to code and use social media to build their brand and business.” In his remarks, Minister Samaraweera said the American Corner Matara fulfils a long-time dream to offer Southern Province youth more connections to US culture, and bolsters Matara’s position as a hub for international activities.  Both Minister Samaraweera and Ambassador Teplitz expressed thanks to the Matara Chamber of Commerce and Industry for their partnership in establishing the American Corner Matara.