JASTECA holds 27th AGM, elects new team with Ranjit at helm

JASTECA held its 27th AGM and Members’ Night recently at Waters Edge amidst a participation of a membership exceeding 250, and their spouses. The Chief Guest at the AGM and the Members’ Night was Nobuhito Hobo, Ambassador for Japan, who is also the patron of JASTECA.

Ranjit Jayewardene, Managing Director, Ranmal International (Pvt.) Ltd., who was formerly the Vice President of JASTECA, was unanimously elected as the President to steer JASTECA during the next two years.    

JASTECA during its 27 years of service to the Sri Lankan community has contributed enormously in many spheres. JASTECA’s role in the development of human resources in a large number of private sector organizations, both in the manufacturing and service sectors, as well in Government organisations is commendable. 

To date, over 3,500 Sri Lankans have been sent to Japan by JASTECA on a multitude of training programs on entrepreneurship, corporate management, plantation management, apparel industry, banking, production and quality management, IT and technical training. 

In addition, JASTECA has trained over 5,000 persons in Sri Lanka through workshops and seminars conducted by experts dispatched from Japan with the support of their parent organisation, the Overseas Human Resources and Industry Development Association (HIDA) of Japan and by utilising the local faculty.

Several top corporate entities and Government institutions in Sri Lanka are practicing the most important 5S management system introduced and propagated by JASTECA and many success stories from key private sector and public sector organisations have been recorded.

The prestigious Taiki Akimoto 5S competition is conducted by JASTECA, bringing together best companies practicing 5S to a competitive platform. Over 75 private companies and Government establishments compete to be the winner of the above converted award every year.

Japanese Language Education Association (JLEA), which functions under the umbrella of JASTECA, is recognised by the Government of Japan as the premier Japanese language Education institute in Sri Lanka.

Over 750 students pass out every year from JLEA acquiring Japanese language skills that help them to secure greener pastures and also to find employment opportunities in international countries.

JASTECA Institute of Management (JIM), with its panel of eminent resources faculty, stands today as one of the leading management education centres providing need based educational and training services to corporate entities to train their senior and middle management staff either through JIM’s regular seminars and workshops or through specialised tailor made training programs designed by JIM to cater for the needs of various organisations.

 Among the philanthropic activities of JASTECA, the Madam Ogawa Scholarship Programme was established in 1999, with a magnanimous donation received from Madam Kiyoko Ogawa. These scholarships are offered to outstanding advanced level students from underprivileged families in the remote areas of Sri Lanka. A much needed emergency care unit was constructed by JASTECA at the Arachchikanda Hospital, off Hikkaduwa, which was a tsunami affected area.

JASTECA has received many accolades from the Sri Lankan Government, the private sector and HIDA Japan. With a committed hardworking team of volunteers carrying through the vision of its founder president, the late Ian Dias Abeysinghe, since 1984 JASTECA over the years has been rated as one of the best alumni societies in the world by HIDA Japan and declared as a model for other alumni societies scattered around the globe.