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Sri Lanka Army

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JSFA Once Again Displays Its Generosity Donating One More Ambulance


The Japan - Sri Lanka Friendship Association (JSFA), endorsing its wholehearted support to the Sri Lanka Army once again, donated one more ambulance to the Army during a brief ceremony at Army Headquarters on Monday (20).

The day’s donation ceremony kicked off soon after the Japanese donors and Major General Sumeda Perera, Director General General Staff, on behalf of the Commander, arrived at the venue at Army Headquarters to a warm welcome.

Hoisting of National Flags of Japan and Sri Lanka, together with the Army flag, and subsequent playing of national anthems of both countries, set off the formal commencement of the day’s proceedings.

Major General Sumeda Perera, Director General General Staff on behalf of the Commander of the Army, extending a warm welcome to the delegation, recalled the series of goodwill gestures that have been hitherto, made by the JSFA to the Army, right throughout.

The donation, sponsored by Toji Family of Gifu City has been as in previous instances, had been coordinated by Dr Lal Thilakarathne, Chairman, JSFA. Mr Nomura Toyoji and members of his family headed the delegation to Sri Lanka.

The ceremony, attended by Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Director General Medical Services and Medical Advisor, Brigadier N.A Dharmaratne, Director, Directorate of Personnel Administration, Dr Lal Thilakarathne, senior officers and a gathering of Japanese representatives, saw the delivery of a symbolic key to Major General Perera by the donor at the occasion.

The JSFA, presided by Dr Lal Thilakarathne with the generous support of the Japanese philanthropists and members of Japanese Lions Clubs, has been in the practice of providing many such emergency vehicles and equipment to the Army in recent years as symbols of ever-strengthening bonds of goodwill and friendship between two nations.

Brief addresses of two Japanese representatives and Dr Thilakarathne, President JSFA and the cultural items, presented by both Army troupes and some Japanese teams culminated the day’s event.

Attaching monumental significance to the event, the afterwards Major General Perera presented symbolic mementos to heads of the visiting donors and Dr Thilakarathne who has been the untiring live-wire behind the project for so many years. The move was reciprocated with similar tokens of appreciation by the visiting Japanese team before the end of the ceremony.