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.
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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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