A meeting between the new Japanese Ambassador MIZUKOSHI Hideaki and The Minister of Education Dinesh Gunawardana was held at Isurupaya, the Ministry of Education, Battaramulla on 13.12.2021.
The matters relating to inter-relationships among the Sri Lankan and Japanese universities, Japanese language learning opportunities in Sri Lanka, information technology assistance, providing agricultural technology assistance and development were discussed at this occasion.
A Japanese language degree course will be started in Sri Jayawardanapura university for improving the Japanese language learning opportunities in Sri Lanka and provide more benefits for the field of higher education.
Memoranda of understanding for various studies are being implemented at present also between Sri Lankan and Japanese universities. The Ambassador said that while updating the existing agreements between Peradeniya University and Meijo University in Japan to improve the international relations in the field of higher education, the agriculture faculty of Ruhuna University and environment and biology degree school of Okayama university in Japan, the faculty of technology of Sri Jayawardanapura university and the tropical biosphere research center of Ryukyu university for coordinated studies and research, Open university of Sri Lanka and the environment and biology degree school of Okayama university in Japan, new memoranda of understanding also could be signed.
Providing more and more study opportunities for Sri Lankan field of education and information technology assistance were also discussed here. The Ambassador said that it is so important and he appreciates the maintaining relationships between the Sri Lankan universities and the information technology section in Japan.
The minister appreciated the provision of assistance to the agriculture in the dry zone by providing necessary trainings and technological assistance to agricultural sector in Kilinochchi. The minister also said at this occasion that it was possible to go for a large human physical development through the aids, donations and loans provided by Japan to Sri Lanka for about seven decades. Among these things there were recently opened new Kelani bridge, various infrastructure facilities, research, railway tracks, hospitals, water, irrigation and cultural needs, the minister expressed. While being thankful for providing employment opportunities in Japan to Sri Lankans he appreciated the provision of more employment opportunities and priorities in Japan for Sri Lankans who learned the Japanese language.
The necessity for electric motor vehicles is strongly felt for green world and the Ambassador drew his attention towards the implementation of such programs. The minister said at this moment that the President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has a more consideration about this. It was also discussed about the possibility of starting this first with school buses.
The minister expressed further thanks for providing the vaccines for covid 19 when we were in a dire need for them.
