Inauguration Ceremony of JICA Chair Program 2023/2024

The University of Colombo and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Sri Lanka jointly hosted the JICA Chair Program for the second consecutive time with the goal of fostering future leaders by incorporating Japan’s experiences and lessons learnt through its modernization and development. The inaugural session of the JICA chair program was successfully organized on the 13^th of October 2023, at the Faculty of Graduate Studies Auditorium.
The ceremony was attended by a distinguished array of guests and dignitaries including His Excellency Mr Mizukoshi Hideaki, the ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Mr Kenji Inoue, the First Secretary at the Embassy of Japan and the JICA Sri Lanka Office team led by the Chief Representative Mr Yamada Tetsuya. The Acting Vice Chancellor, the Director of the International Office, the Registrar, the Bursar, Heads of Departments, and academic and non-academic staff members attended the ceremony alongside 100 undergraduate students from the Departments of International Relations and Economics from the Faculty of Arts and the Departments of International Business and Business Economics from the Faculty of Management and Finance.
The Director of the International Office, Professor Sashika Manoratne welcomed the guests and formally explained the proposed program for the JICA chair program 2023-2024. The Chief Representative of JICA Sri Lanka, Mr Yamada Tetsuya emphasized the dedication of the University of Colombo towards these types of programs and the benefits that shall be reaped by students in his address. His Excellency the Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka conveyed his utmost happiness in inviting him to be a part of such a knowledge-sharing program for the second time highlighting the longstanding relationship between the two nations.
The Acting Vice Chancellor and the dean of the Faculty of Management and Finance, Professor MPP Dharmadasa focused on the importance of the JICA Chair Program to the students underscoring the Japanese Economic Growth after World War II and especially the Japanese Management style. The inaugural ceremony was successfully concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by an undergraduate student from the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Arts.