Japanese Week to mark Lanka-Japan Friendship Society’s 60th anniversary

By Shehana Dain

Celebrating 60 years of alliance, the Lanka-Japan Friendship Society (LJFS) has lined a ‘Japanese Week’ aiming to strengthen its bilateral relationship with Japan.

Addressing the gathering on Tuesday (1), LJFS President Sumana Liyanage said: “In the recent past LJFS has organised several activities to strengthen friendship between our two countries. The highlight of each year’s celebration has been the grand banquet in celebration of the birthday of the Emperor of Japan.”

This year in commemoration of the 60th anniversary LJFS has organised a series of events commencing from 11 to 19 March. The special events kicked off with a get together and dinner at Galadari Hotel yesterday at which Japanese Ambassador Kenichi Sugangama was the Chief Guest. Around 450 people were expected at the event.

Moreover the timeline gets quite packed on 11 March as three events are scheduled to be held throughout the day.

A screening of a documentary highlighting the past activities of LJFS, granting scholarships to study Japanese language to needy students and the launching of the membership directory will take place on this day.

On 13 March the customary memorial service for the victims of the great eastern tsunami will eventuate where a religious ceremony will be held at the Gangarama Temple. On the final day of the special event calendar is the most significant activity for the LJFS where they will be conducting a health camp at the Sedawatte Purana Viharaya in which they hope to look into at least 500 patients and their needs. The medical team will constitute of 25 doctors and paramedics and will be headed by Dr. Lakshman Weerasena.

Representing the Japanese Embassy, First Secretary (PR and CEA) Masaki Takoka was also present at the event. He commended the efforts made by LJFS to uplift the relationship between the countries. “The Embassy of Japan views LJFS as a precious partner to promote our bilateral relationships and we expect them to continue to do so for many years to come,” he noted.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara