24 June 2015 - The Office of the Philippine Honorary Consul in Sri Lanka took part in the global celebration of the 117th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence when it hosted a formal reception at the Atrium of Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo on June 13.
Guests from the Parliament, diplomatic and business communities attended the occasion. Philippine Non-Resident Ambassador to Sri Lanka Vicente Vivencio T. Bandillo was joined by his wife, Madame Alma A. Bandillo at the celebration. In his remarks, Ambassador Bandillo welcomed everyone especially the Chief Guest, Cabinet Spokesman and Health and Indigenous Medicine Minister Rajitha Senarathne and expressed his gratitude to Philippine Honorary Consul Hugh Sriyal Dissanayake for organizing the commemoration of Philippine Independence in the country.
Included in the program was the launch of the official website of the Philippine Honorary Consulate General which can be accessed through www.philconsrilanka.org.
The reception was part of the programs initiated by the Philippine Honorary Consulate General in Colombo in promoting greater awareness of the Philippines and the operation of the Consulate as the official Philippine representation in the country.
As lead up to the reception, the Honorary Consulate General organized a simple ceremony with the Filipino community on June 12 featuring the traditional raising of the Philippine national flag and the reading of Independence Day messages of Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III and other key Philippine government officials. Breakfast was served and shared by everyone in attendance at the end of the program. END