Published on - 7/26/2004
Japanese philanthropists, a nation that witnessed the brutalities of war some decades ago during the World War II, volunteered once again to offer their humanitarian assistance to the Sri Lanka Army, following an initiative undertaken by the Lion Club of Sri Lanka.
Fifty three Japanese Samaritans who arrived in Sri Lanka early this week were distinguished guests on Sunday (25) at a ceremony held at Police Park Grounds, Colombo 5 to officially hand over 200 wheelchairs, three fire-fighting engines, two ambulances to the Army and sportswear kits for 500 school children of War Heroes and differently-able members of the Army.
Needless to say, the occasion was a gesture of bilateral cooperation, goodwill, considerateness, not least, the sense of deep understanding that continues to exist between these two nations as those Japanese guests lined up to donate what they brought for Sri Lanka under a multi-donation programme, organized by the Lion Club of Sri Lanka.
Fluttering Japanese and Sri Lankan flags and also the Lion Club flag in the esplanade added colour to the occasion as the national anthems of both countries were played to mark the beginning of the ceremony. Upon arrival of those Japanese donors, Lion Kasyapa Mahendra de Silva, President Lion Club 306 C and Lion Dr Lal Thillakeratne, President, Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Association who was the initiator of this worthy project in the company of several other Lions welcomed the Chief Guest Hon. Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Mahaveli and Rajarata Development, Commander of the Army Lt. Gen S. H. S Kottegoda, Envoy representing Japanese Ambassador for Sri Lanka and other distinguished guests before the ceremony began.
The customary and auspicious oil lamp was then lit by a group of Japanese representatives and distinguished guests to begin day's proceedings. Immediately after it, Japanese delegates, in a symbolic gesture for their care for children, then gave away mathematical instrument boxes among hundreds of children who participated in the occasion. Many of them were children of the public.
The climax of the occasion reached when Japanese donors symbolically handed over 200 wheelchairs to the Army Commander while hundreds of seated differently-able soldiers looked on at this great gesture of Japanese goodwill.
In his greetings to the occasion, Lion Prof. Luxman Wijayaweera noted that this donation was one of the biggest projects that was launched in their district thanks to the generosity shown by those Japanese philanthropists. “This gesture was a clear boost to ever strengthening good relations between the two Nations and Japanese assistance was of immense importance to our Sri Lankan nation,†he added.
Another stock of 1000 wheelchairs was also donated at the venue among disable members of the public and children who had come on their own or either been taken there by their parents.
Three fire engines and two ambulances were also received by the Army Commander at the same occasion, showing his sense of gratitude to the Japanese Samaritans. While Japanese delegates were enthusiastically partaking, some of their colleagues then went on to give away a consignment of sportswear and scholarships to a section of school children who joined the ceremony from every corner of the island. The ceremony, addressed by several Japanese philanthropists, was attended by a large gathering of Senior Army Officers.
