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U.S. Returns Stolen Artifacts to China
After making its largest discovery of cultural property ever — 42,000 artifacts from around the world — at one U.S. home, the FBI has begun packing up and sending many of the items to the People’s Republic of China, where they belong.
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Sahan Basnayake
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Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Chhim Sokkunthea
Sahan Basnayake was working at a computer repair center when his life took an unexpected turn. Even though both of his parents were journalists, he originally did not plan on following in their footsteps. Eventually, his family history and his own interest in local events led him to a new career. As a local news reporter, Basnayake built connections with the American Center in Sri Lanka and was later selected to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for a project called "Empowering Civil Society through New Media Platforms."
Shortly after his IVLP, Basnayake became the first Sinhala/English bilingual provincial reporter for DERANA television station in Sri Lanka. From his father, Basnayake learned his photojournalism skills and the desire to look at the world from a different perspective, but he credits his IVLP experience with exposing him to the benefits of social media. He now uses both traditional media and new media platforms to showcase his work.
Sahan Basnayake is using new media skills he learned during his IVLP to become a voice for the voiceless in Sri Lanka. He says, “I think my IVLP really helped me to empower the civil society around me” and he is continually attempting to find solutions to key issues that face society. Thanks to his IVLP, he connected with 18 fellow participants who shared the same experiences and he plans to collaborate with them in the future.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
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Just after returning from the United States and finishing up my IVLP, The “DERANA TV” (A Sinhalese language terrestrial television channel broadcasting in Sri Lanka) contacted me. They were about to start their new English news department, and they needed me to join. With this involvement and my IVLP experience, I became the first bilingual (Sinhala & English) provincial reporter for DERANA TV channel in Sri Lanka. In 2017 it was the first time in Sri Lanka that there was a chance to report in English, and I was the provincial reporter. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpo6iN8d3UE) This experience gave me the confidence and exposure to communicate in English. Now I, shoot, edit, and present my own news report. This is a result of my IVLP experience. In May 2017, I had an opportunity to connect with CBC (Canadian Broadcast Corporation).
CBC wanted me to provide a live update via Skype about the floodings in the southern part of Sri Lanka. The News Producers of CBC found my accounts via social media links that connected me with the IVLP. At the same time, “TRT World” (Turkish state international news channel) that broadcasts 24-hours per day in English contacted by directly via Skype to receive updates about the floodings due to my continued involvement on Twitter. Due to the social Media training obtained by the IVLP, I am now using both traditional media and new media platforms to showcase my work across the world. My participation in the IVLP provided me the skills to now switch between social media and traditional media, according to my audience. After The IVLP, I became the Point of contact of the US Embassy, for the North Central Province in Sri Lanka.
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BasnayakeIVLP Alumni
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U.S. Embassy Launches New Initiative to Support Malaysian Women Entrepreneurs
Today, Ambassador Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir and Secretary-General for the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development Dato’ Dr. Junaidah binti Kamarruddin officiated the Malaysia launch of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).
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IDEAS Grant Competition Opens for U.S. Colleges and Universities
IDEAS Grant Competition Opens for U.S. Colleges and Universities, offers One-Time Doubling of Grants to Rebuild Study Abroad Capacity.
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Cultural Heritage Game Jam Winners Honored at Expo2020
The winners of the Cultural Heritage Game Jam were announced on December 16, 2021, at the USA Pavilion at Expo2020 in Dubai.
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Cultural Property Advisory Committee Meeting April 26-27, 2022
Will meet to review a request for cultural property import restrictions from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
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Gamers Around the World Celebrate Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage at the United With Ukraine Game Jam
“Jammers” representing 22 countries worked around the clock developing game prototypes in just two days.
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Preserving Cultural Heritage Worldwide
We invite you to join the U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Heritage Center for a virtual exploration of our heritage preservation projects at sites around the world.
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Smithsonian/CHCC Cultural Property Anti-Trafficking Workshop
The U.S. Department of State’s Cultural Antiquities Task Force (CATF) held a virtual training workshop for law enforcement officials from the United States to enhance their knowledge of cultural property of Indigenous and Native Peoples of North America and build their capacity to protect Indigenous heritage by disrupting its trafficking.
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From Vision to Impact: Women Entrepreneurs Flourish in Embassy Mexico’s National Pitch Competition
In 2023 and 2024, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and U.S. Embassy Mexico City collaborated with AT&T Mexico on ECA’s Academy for Women Entrepreneurs’ (AWE) local and national pitch competitions.