Fuji Maru arrives today

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Fuji Maru ship will dock in Sri Lanka todayafter 17 years. It is the ship used by the government of Japan for its World Youth (SWY) Programme every year.

The SWY programme annually organized by Japanese government with the objectives of fostering the spirit and practice of international cooperation, promote friendship and mutual understanding between the youth of Japan and the youth of other parts of the world, broaden the international awareness of participants and develop youth capable of playing leading roles in various sectors of their societies and in turn contribute to the sound development of youth in their respective countries.

Eleven Sri Lankan youths left Sri Lanka for Japan on January 17 to participate in the 24th SWY programme. The ship was last in Sri Lanka in 1995.

The SWY program was started in 1989. The Fuji Maru ship will remain in Sri Lanka for four days during which participants are expected to meet President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They will also learn about the cultural, educational, economical, political and social backgrounds of Sri Lanka during their stay.