Inaugural Fulbright John Lewis Fellows Cohort Visits Sri Lanka for Capstone Symposium

Between June 30 and July 3, 2025, the United States-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission (US-SLFC) was hosted the capstone symposium for the inaugural cohort of Fulbright John Lewis Fellows in Sri Lanka this month.

This Congressionally-mandated fellowship—established through bipartisan legislation and created by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs—honors the legacy of the civil rights leader and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives John Lewis. The program brought together 27 Fulbright U.S. student researchers based around the world whose work centered themes including citizenship, human rights, democratic movements, and peace and conflicts studies.

Symposium activities took place in Colombo and Hatton. The Colombo portion included an opening reception and remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung, a keynote speech by US-SLFC board member and former Head of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka Dr. Deepika Udagama, and research-sharing sessions amongst the 27 Fellows.

The group then spent two days in Hatton to engage directly in the evolving conversation around the tea industry with a special visit to Kolapathana Estate in collaboration with American Corner Kandy and local NGO, Chrysalis.

In all its activities, US-SLFC remains committed to the Fulbright mission of cross-cultural exchange and mutual understanding.