Japan ‘Foreign Minister’s Commendation’ awarded to Dilrukshi Martenstyn

Friday, 29 October 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

On 22 October, a ceremony to award ‘Foreign Minister's Commendation’ to Sri Lanka Bonsai Association President Dilrukshi Martenstyn was held at the official residence of Ambassador Sugiyama Akira.

Martenstyn has been instrumental in promoting the art of bonsai among the Sri Lankan people for over three decades, and has been contributing significantly to fostering mutual understanding between the two countries. She started practicing bonsai in 1988, and in the following year, as a founding member, pioneered the formation of the Sri Lanka Bonsai Association.

Martenstyn has played a vital role in bringing the hearts and minds of the people of the two countries together through this subtle art, by holding bonsai exhibitions and participating in Japanese cultural fairs organised by the Embassy of Japan, and has dedicated herself to passing down her knowledge and experience to the people of Sri Lanka over the years.

Martenstyn is an accomplished artist not only in bonsai but also in ikebana, and is a founding member of the Shi-en Ikebana & Floral Art Society of Sri Lanka as well as Ikebana International Sri Lanka, having served as the President and Secretary of those acclaimed associations for many years.

As a member of the Lanka-Japan Friendship Society, Martenstyn also has made a significant contribution to strengthening the friendship between the two countries, which will mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations next year.

‘Foreign Minister’s Commendations’ are awarded annually to those persons or organisations having rendered exceptional and distinguished services to the promotion of mutual understanding, friendship and goodwill between their countries and Japan through economic and technical cooperation, information and cultural activities, as well as other activities to enhance international relations.