Nature, Culture, and Sustainability: Celebrating the Beauty of Sri Lanka at UCLA 2026

The America Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society, Los Angeles (ASPAS), is pleased to inform you that it will host its sixth annual “Beauty of Sri Lanka Photographic Exhibition” in the United States in 2026, in collaboration with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Washington, D.C., the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Los Angeles, the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Toronto – Canada, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau.
The exhibition and related programs will be held on the following dates and locations:

▪ April 24, 2026 – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
▪ April 27, 2026 – Metro Hall, Toronto, Canada
▪ April 29, 2026 – Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations, New York.
▪ May 2, 2026 – Embassy of Sri Lanka, Washington, DC.

In connection with the above events, four award-winning photographers, one wildlife researcher, and one journalist from Sri Lanka have been invited to travel to the United States to participate in the exhibition and its associated programs.

We respectfully confirm that the America Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society, Los Angeles, a State of California–registered, non-profit, tax-exempt organization, will be fully responsible for the international travel, accommodation, and subsistence expenses of the invited participants during their stay in the United States.

As part of the exhibition and in celebration of Earth Day 2026, ASPAS has also arranged:
▪ A special screening of a documentary video on Sri Lanka produced by the BBC for the Blue Planet program.
▪ The planting of 500 California-native plants in partnership with ReTree, Los Angeles, highlighting environmental sustainability and conservation.

The ASPAS Selection Committee has carefully chosen a limited number of professionals from Sri Lanka whose expertise and reputation will significantly enhance the quality and impact of the exhibition, while
promoting Sri Lanka’s natural heritage and tourism among the American public. During their visit, the invitees will also participate in ASPAS-organized activities, including:

▪ A series of professional photography workshops and lectures.
▪ Educational and cultural visits to major national landmarks in Washington, D.C., including the White House vicinity, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, United States Capitol, and the National Museum of Natural History.

We further assure the Embassy that ASPAS will take full responsibility for ensuring that all invitees return to Sri Lanka upon completion of their approximately two-week visit. We respectfully note that visas were granted to similar invitees for previous ASPAS exhibitions, and all participants complied fully with visa conditions and returned to Sri Lanka promptly. The same level of responsibility and compliance will be maintained for the 2026 program.