Lanka – Japan Friendship Society new office bearers

At a recent ceremony at the Sasakawa Hall, attended by the members of the Lanka Japan Friendship Society (LJFS), diplomats from the Japanese Embassy and members of the Japanese community in Sri Lanka, M.D (Tony) Saldin was formally elected as the19th President of the Society.

The induction ceremony was conducted by outgoing President Merrick Gooneratne in the presence of the Japanese Ambassador Hideaki Mizukoshi.

The following were elected to the EXCO for the year 2023/2024: Patron Hideaki Mizukoshi, Ambassador for Japan, Vice Patrons: Merrick Gooneratne/Immediate past President, Sumana Liyanage, Deepal Gunaratne, Mikinaga Hotta, President: M.D. (Tony) Saldin, Vice Presidents: A. Anandagoda, Jayaraja Chandrasekera, Prof. Gaminda Haegoda, Neomal Perera, Sunitha Wijepala, General Secretary: Samadara Mampitiye, Asst Gen Secretary: Diloshini Nesakumar, General Treasurer: M. Thiyagaraja, Asst Gen Treasurer: R. Kadirgamar Rajah, Executive Committee: Nemantha Abeysinghe, Dhammika Attygale, Dr. Vijaya Corea, Dr. PHP de Silva, Mahendra de Vaz, DARM Nishanthi Galhena, W.I. Gunawardena, Jannath Ismail, Dr, Upali Jayawardena, Brigadier Samantha Jayasundara, Captain Ganesh Mendis,Sarojini Nagendran, Dr. Rohan Pallewatte, Shanil Perera, S.N. Raghavan, Shelly Thenuwara, Manoranjan Wijebahu, Himani Wijemanne.

The Lanka – Japan Friendship Society was formed in the wake of Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948, when a few societies were coming up in order to build goodwill and friendship between countries which were well disposed towards Sri Lanka. The Ceylon–Japan Friendship Society as it was originally called, is believed to have been inaugurated around Feb 1966 when Japan was emerging as an industrial nation.

Sir Susantha de Fonseka who was Ceylon’s Ambassador in Japan promoted the idea of establishing this institution, which is now the oldest friendship society in Sri Lanka. Mr. Akira Matsui, the Japanese Ambassador was Sir Susantha’s counterpart in Sri Lanka.

Activities in the early days were confined to irregular meetings of fellowship held in the Embassy of Japan in Colombo. Sir Wilfred de Soysa, an outstanding philanthropist was designated the first President. Mr. Herbert Tennekoon and Sir Sangarapillai Pararajasingham followed and the focus of attention was the mutual friendship and co-operation among its members.

Eminent persons such as Messers Herbert Tennekoon, William Tennekoon, Sir Razik Fareed, Gamini Jayasuriya, Thomas Amarasuriya and Mr. C.X. Martyn involved themselves in matters concerning the society in the early days. Mr. M.D.H. Jayawardena, a Cabinet Minister was decorated with the Order of the Sacred Lotus by the Emperor of Japan, soon after he relinquished office as President of the society.

The Constitution of the Society was formulated by Mr. J.R. Jayewardene. Even after over 60 years the basic constitution was found to be adequate and remains more or less the same.

It was during the presidency of Mr. Ivor Paternott, that prime land down 22nd Lane, Kollupitiya was made available for the construction of the society’s permanent headquarters. This was possible through financial assistance provided by a Japanese millionaire and philanthropist Mr. Ryogi Sasakawa and the building was subsequently named after him.

EXCO and general meetings of the society are held in the numerous committee rooms and auditorium of the Sasakawa Cultural Centre.

(Excerpts from “The Lanka Japan Friendship Society – A historical note” by Fred Medis, Past President in 1960)