Japanese Govt. confers prestigious decoration on Merrick Gooneratne

Wednesday, 3 December 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government of Japan announced on 3rd November, the conferment of “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette” upon Merrick Gooneratne in recognition of his invaluable contributions in promoting Japan and Sri Lanka relations.

Japanese Govt Merrick Gooneratne Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador of Japan, formally conferred the order upon Mr. Merrick Gooneratne on behalf of the Government of Japan at a special ceremony held on 28th November, at the Ambassador’s residence in Colombo in the presence of a distinguished gathering. Merrick Gooneratne was a Research Scholar who lived and studied in Japan under the Monbukagakusho scholarship scheme and earned his Post Graduate Research Certificate in International Economics from the Kyoto University, Japan. He studied Japanese language at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, and is fluent in the Japanese language. Since his postgraduate studies in Japan, he had joined the Japanese Graduates Alumni Association of Sri Lanka (JAGAAS) and served as its President for three terms. He was also the Honorary. General Secretary of the Lanka - Japan Friendship Society for two terms. Gooneratne has also served as the Vice President of the Sri Lanka Japan Business Cooperation Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (SLJBCC) since 2008 to date. He is presently the Executive Director of TOS Lanka Co. Ltd. – a fully Japanese owned BOI Enterprise in Hi Tech Electronics, in commercial operation since 1995.