Ambassador Prasad Kariyawasam on May 25 handed over the Commission of Appointment to Ronald James Sorini to serve as the Honorary Consul for Sri Lanka in the State of Illinoi.

Illinois is home to a substantial number of Sri Lankan–Americans, including a sizable student population. The state is also home to several major U.S. companies, which have business interests in Sri Lanka.

Sorini brings into the position over a decade of experience in high-level positions in the federal government at the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). In 1989, Sorini was appointed by President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to the position of Chief Textile Negotiator at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), holding the rank of Ambassador. He is a founding partner of Sorini, Samet & Associates, a leading international trade firm in Washington D.C.