Washington: Ambassador Mahinda Samarasinghe extended a warm welcome to Namini Wijedasa, a prominent journalist, at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C. Head of Chancery/Counsellor Chathuri Perera also attended the meeting.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Sri Lanka, Namini Wijedasa is in the United States to receive the International Women of Courage Award 2025 from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This award is in recognition of her pursuit of truth and commitment to social justice, transparency, and accountability. The IWOC Award celebrates women worldwide who have demonstrated courage, strength, and leadership, often at personal risk.

This honor highlights Namini’s impact on investigative reporting in Sri Lanka and reinforces the diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and the United States. It emphasizes the role of Sri Lankan journalists like Namini in promoting good governance, transparency, accountability, and the Rule of Law.

Ambassador Samarasinghe, invited by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, attended the International Women of Courage Awards ceremony at the Department of State on April 1, 2025. The event featured special guest First Lady Melania Trump and was streamed live on the State Department’s homepage and YouTube channel.