Following the success of the inaugural Japanese Student Exchange Programme in March 2024, the second group of students from JF Oberlin University (JFOU), Japan arrived in Sri Lanka on August 20, 2024, for a two-week study tour. This exchange was part of the ongoing collaboration outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) and JF Oberlin University, Japan.

Twelve students from the School of Management in JFOU participated in the programme, which focused on key sectors of Sri Lankan economy, including studies of its World Heritage sites, the gem and tea industries, and the tourism sector. As a part of the exchange, the universities jointly organized a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project in the Sigiriya area, where students provided educational supplies to an underprivileged local school.

The exchange programme concluded with a cultural event titled “Night of Tomo (友)” held at KDU, which celebrated the friendship and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Japan. The event provided a meaningful platform for students from both countires to share their cultures and foster a deeper sense of mutual understanding.

The programme was further supported by key Japanese institutions, including the Japanese Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Colombo. Their involvement underscores a broader commitment to strengthening academic partnerships and promoting educational cooperation between the two countries.

The entire exchange programme was organized by the Nippon-Lanka Collaboration Centre (NLCC-KDU), operating under the Department of Social Sciences at KDU Metropolitan Campus in Colombo, reimforcing the growth ties between Japan and Sri Lanka.