Saint Paul - Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the reappointment of Ananda Liyanapathiranage and the appointment of Sokunthea Bentley and Ami Nafzger to the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.

Sokunthea Bentley, of Eagan, is the President and CEO of the International Translation Bureau.  She previously served as the Interim Executive Director for the Center for Asians and Pacific Islanders (CAPI) in Minneapolis.  Bentley is a former Chair of the Board of CAPI.  She also previously served as Chair of the Board of the Cambodian Mothers Association.  Bentley received a B.A. in Business Management from Hamline University in St. Paul.  She is appointed to the Council as a representative of the Cambodian community and will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007.  She fills the Council seat formerly held by Sotheary Duong.

Ananda Liyanapathiranage, of Woodbury, is a Systems Analyst-Senior for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.  He previously served in the Minnesota Departments of Finance, Revenue, and Transportation.  Liyanapathiranage currently serves as President of the Minnesota-Sri Lanka Friendship Foundation and organized the "Great Minnesotan Sri-Lankan Get Together" in 1995, 1997, and 1998.  He is a graduate of the University of Kelaniya in Sri Lanka.  Liyanapathiranage is appointed to the Council as a representative of the Sri Lankan community and will serve a four-year term which ends January 5, 2009.  He first joined the Council in 1999 and currently serves as the Council's Vice Chair.

Ami Nafzger, of Richfield, is a workforce development manager for Goodwill Easter Seals, in Minneapolis and St. Paul.  She also serves as the General Manager and Secretary of the Dragon Festival in St. Paul.  Nafzger also serves as a member of the board of the Asian Pacific Cultural Center in St. Paul.  She is the founder and former Secretary General of Global Overseas Adoptees Link in Seoul, South Korea.  She received a B.A. in Social Work, Sociology and Native American Indian Studies from Augsburg College in Minneapolis.  Nafzger is appointed to the Council as a representative of the Korean community and will serve a term which ends January 1, 2007.  She fills the Council seat formerly held by Stephan Huh. 

The Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans advises the Governor and Legislature on issues pertaining to Asian-Pacific Minnesotans.  The Council also advocates on issues of importance to the Asian-Pacific community in Minnesota.  The Council is made up of 23 members, including 19 appointed by the Governor.