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Government Gazette

Sigiriya Museum: Repository of Sri Lankan excellence

Address of Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on the occasion of the opening of the Sigiriya Museum yesterday

It is indeed a great pleasure for me to address this august gathering at the opening ceremony of the newly constructed Sigiriya museum built with the generous assistance of the Government of Japan. Let me take this opportunity to thank Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and the President of the Sri Lanka - Japan Friendship Association and a long time friend of Sri Lanka for accepting our invitation to grace this momentous occasion, despite his busy schedule and commitments at home in Japan.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda arrived to attend the opening ceremony of Sigiriya Museum on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama recieving Fukuda.

Fukuda has just returned from an official visit to Canada and Hawaii accompanying their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan.

Yasuo Fukuda, was the 91st Prime Minister of Japan from 2007 to 2008, followed in the footsteps of this illustrious father - Takeo Fukuda - who was the 67th Prime Minister of Japan. As President of the Japan - Sri Lanka Association, has rendered yeoman service to develop and nurture an everlasting bond between our two countries. We in Sri Lanka are fortunate to have him as a friend, a friend who has Sri Lanka’s best interests at heart.

We have witnessed his generosity on many occasions, including in particular, organizing the Sri Lanka Cultural Heritage Exhibition at the prestigious Tokyo National Museum.

We are honoured that their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan took time to visit the exhibition. President Mahinda Rajapaksa took a personal interest regarding this exhibition and arranged for our Prime Minister to travel to Japan to receive their Majestys’ at the exhibition, which was indeed a historical moment in the contest of relations between the two countries.

This noble gift of the Sigiriya Museum which was funded by the Government of Japan will remain as a special symbol of the cultural relations we have so happily enjoyed for centuries and the people of Sri Lanka will appreciate this gesture by Japan with a deep sense of gratitude.

This was a collaborative effort between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) the Central Cultural Fund (CCF) of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of National Heritage and Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau of the Tourism Ministry.

The Museum opened today in Sigiriya has been declared the most attractive in the South Asian region by JICA and it features two main artefacts of an archaeological value. They are the furnace used to melt iron during the Anuradhapura era and a valuable earring found in Sigiriya. Rare artefacts found in Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are also preserved in the museum.

The Museum will be a repository of all that our nation stands for namely excellence in literature, architecture, sculpture and painting. It also signifies our unfailing dedication to the highest spiritual and moral values.

Sri Lanka is recognized as a traditional and long-standing friend of Japan. Our two countries being island states in Asia have had excellent relations in many fields of activity political, economic and cultural.

Culturally, we are closely linked as our two countries have been influenced by the teachings of the Buddha, whose philosophy has moulded the outlook of the people of Sri Lanka and Japan.

It is my belief that this cultural affinity constitutes a bond between our two countries on which we have built a close and enduring relationship.

Sri Lanka and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1952 immediately after the signing of the San Francisco Peace treaty and our relations in the political field have become stronger and stronger with every passing year. Japan’s continued support on issues affecting Sri Lanka’s interest at regional and international fora has been a great source of encouragement for us.

I am pleased to recall with gratitude the Japanese Government’s continued economic assistance extended to Sri Lanka over the years in the field of development assistance and technical cooperation.

In recent years our relations have assumed a new impetus as a result of growing economic collaboration between our two countries. Japan as one of the original members of the Sri Lanka Aid consortium has extended generous assistance to uplift Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development.

We have been receiving assistance from Japan in the form of commodity, grant and project aid and over the years this assistance has improved both in quality and conditions. People of Sri Lanka still carry with them sound memories of assistance received from the Government and people of Japan for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the aftermath of the tsunami.

We are also thankful for the Government of Japan’s magnificent assistance for major projects including the Sri Jayawardenepura Hospital, teaching hospital at Peradeniya, construction of a national television network and the Parliament, the Japan Friendship Bridge which stand as pillars of friendship between the two countries.

We are deeply touched by the presence of former Prime Minister Fukuda at this historic occasion which will no doubt usher a new chapter in our bilateral relations.

We hope that Fukuda will continue to remain as President of the Japan - Sri Lanka Friendship Associations for many years to come and that it will be for the mutual benefit to our two countries.

 

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