Sri Lankan business leaders meet US Ambassador Atul Keshap

Top Sri Lankan business personalities met US Ambassador Atul Keshap at a dinner event in Colombo last week organised by the Horton Debate Society.

Ambassador Keshap and his wife Karen attended the sumptuous dinner at the Grand Gourmet restaurant on Horton Place in Colombo, with Ranjan Hulugalle, chairman of the society presiding over the event. 

Nirj Deva Aditya, Member of the European Parliament, and Patron of the Society, was also in attendance. Among the guests were MP Tharaka Balasuriya, Aroon Hirdaramani and wife Sonia, Richard Gunawardene, Priya Jayawardena, Prashan Nagendra, Sharm De Alwis and Sachini Ayendra.  

Ambassador Keshap addressed the audience with an insightful speech on current affairs spanning political developments, and trade and investment in Sri Lanka, before fielding questions from members. 

Keshap joined the Foreign Service in 1994 and served as director of the Office of Human Rights and Humanitarian and Social Affairs in the State Department’s Bureau of International Organizations in 2008. 

In 2013, he became deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia, holding that position until being appointed ambassador.

JAT Holdings, Sri Lanka’s leading furnishing and finishing company, is a sponsor of the Horton Debate Society events.

The Horton Debate Society, Sri Lanka’s premier networking group, organises high profile events for business personalities and civil society leaders to interact with and pose key questions to top decision makers. 

Since January, the group ([email protected]) has organised more than 12 events with current and former prime ministers, a former president, members of the European Parliament and high-profile international investors. The next event will be with a personality ranked one of the top 10 investors in Africa by Forbes.