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Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama (left) and Jaffna Municipal Council Mayor Emmanuel Arnold at the handover ceremony
Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama handed over a 92 book donation from the Nippon Foundation to the Jaffna Public Library, to Jaffna Municipal Council Mayor Emmanuel Arnold at the ceremony organized at the Jaffna Public Library last week.
The Nippon Foundation is the foremost public welfare and philanthropical organization in Japan, and has been playing the leading role in Sri Lanka in promoting the Japanese language and culture at Sasakawa Center in Colombo, while aiming to achieve “a society where all people support one another, reducing the burdens and challenges they face together”.
The program to donate books intends to enhance deeper understanding of contemporary Japan through one hundred books, covering a wide range of subjects, carefully selected by a committee of ten individuals with extensive knowledge of Japan, including professors, writers, journalists, entrepreneurs, diplomats and representatives from the civil society. Ambassador Sugiyama, in his speech, mentioned that the fact that this year marks the 10th anniversary since the end of the war in Sri Lanka as well as the beginning of new era of “Reiwa” – beautiful harmony – in Japan, adds special significance to the spirit that is being nourished through the donation of books.
In response, Mayor Emmanuel Arnold expressed his deep appreciation to The Nippon Foundation, with a special remark that the books will lead the future generations and determine how the country is presented.
Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa also contributed a special message for the handover ceremony, saying; “We expect this book donation project will enhance the intellectual exchange between Japan and Sri Lanka. We would be grateful if you could make use of these books.”
