Mar 21, 2025

Vice Chancellor Engages with Key Japanese Officials in Nagoya for a Proposed Study Tour to Sri Lanka

Professor Ananda Kumara, Vice Chancellor of LNBTI, recently held discussions with several key figures in Japan regarding a proposed study tour mission to Sri Lanka. This initiative aims to foster academic and cultural exchange while strengthening ties between Sri Lanka and Japan.During the meetings, Professor Kumara engaged with top officials from the Aichi Branch of the supporting organization for the JICA-JOCV program, former senior academic and administrative staff of Meijo University, and executives of the Japanese NPO, Taranga Friendship Group. The discussions focused on structuring the study tour, which is set to include:• Meetings with the JICA head office in Colombo.• Field visits to observe JICA volunteers at work.• Interactive programs with students at LNBTI.• Visits to world heritage sites in Sri Lanka.This tour aims to provide participants with a deeper understanding of Sri Lanka’s development initiatives, cultural heritage, and academic environment while fostering long-term collaboration between Japanese and Sri Lankan institutions.Notably, during his tenure in Japan, Professor Ananda Kumara was elected as the President of the Mie Chapter of the supporting organization for the JICA-JOCV program. This prestigious organization has branches in all prefectures across Japan, and he remains the first and only foreigner to have been appointed to this distinguished role. His leadership in this capacity reflects his significant contributions to international academic and international cooperation programs.The proposed study tour is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and open new opportunities for collaboration between Sri Lanka and Japan in education, research, and cultural exchange.