The Certificate Awarding Ceremony of the short course on “Cultural Linkages towards an Asian Ideology – 2023/24,” was successfully held on 11th March, 2024, at the Main Auditorium of the Faculty of Graduate Studies at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). This programme was organized by the Department of Social Sciences of the Faculty of Management, Social Sciences and Humanities of KDU and was funded by the Eurasia Foundation in Japan.
The short course, which was successfully conducted for the fourth consecutive year, aimed to educate students about the diverse cultures of Asia, fostering an understanding of the similarities and differences across Asian societies and systems. Eminent scholars, practitioners, and resource persons, both locally and internationally, delivered a series of lecturers throughout the programme.
The event was honoured by the esteemed presence of Mr. Kotaro Katsuki, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka the Chief Guest of the event, alongside Mr. Tetsuya Yamada, Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka Office, Ms. Anna Suzuki, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, Mr. Inoue Hiroki, Second Secretary of the Embassy in Japan, and Rear Admiral HGU Dammika Kumara, Vice Chancellor of KDU. The presence of Professor Hajime Tozaki and Mr. Nobuo Kanda, along with ten Japanese students from JF Oberlin University in Japan, marked genuine cultural linkages between the two countries. Additionally, several distinguished guests, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor – Defence and Administration, Deputy Vice Chancellor-Academic, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, Professors, Military Officers, Academic staff, non-academic staff, and students graced the occasion.
In his welcome speech, the Vice Chancellor emphasized the significance of cultural linkages and expressed gratitude to all the Japanese counterparts and the Department of Social Sciences for their successful collaboration. Mr. Kotaro Katsuki, the Chief Guest, recalled the historical support Sri Lanka extended to Japan during the San Francisco Conference after the World War II and assured continued support from Japan to Sri Lanka. Professor Hajime Tozaki expressed his deep appreciation for the course’s execution and emphasized the importance of student exchange between KDU and JF Oberlin University to enhance the cultural linkages between two countries.
Certificates were awarded to 93 local and international students, comprising both Officer Cadets and Day-Scholars from different faculties of KDU, by Mr. Kotaro Katsuki, Prof. Hajime Tozaki, Mr. Tetsuya Yamada, and Vice Chancellor of KDU. The event was illumined by two captivating dance performances by KDU students and concluded with the vote of thanks delivered by the course coordinator, Dr. Hemantha Premarathne in both Japanese and English languages.
