The Sri Lanka Business Council in Japan (SLBCJ) under the patronage of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Tokyo, organised the 15th edition of Sri Lanka Festival in August in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo.
During the opening session of the Festival, Ambassador Prof. Dammika Dissanayake highlighted the importance of this timely event to promote Sri Lanka after the Easter Sunday attacks.
He also mentioned that Sri Lanka is a country that never gives up and rises every time she falls. Special Advisor to the Cabinet, Hiroyuki Arai and Senior Managing Executive Officer of ITOCHU Corporation, Fumihiko Kobayashi, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Japan Sri Lanka Business Cooperation Committee, also appreciated the festival.
The event portrayed Sri Lanka’s potential in order to promote trade, commerce and investment activities between the two countries. There were around 100 exhibitor booths presenting Sri Lankan foods and other products and services.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Sri Lanka Tea Board have been participating at the Sri Lanka Festival from the inception and were two of the main sponsors for this year’s event as well.
The festival included cultural and entertainment events such as a two-day exposition of Sri Lanka’s traditional dancing by the Chandana Wickramasinghe Dance Academy, Sri Lankan ayurveda and yoga, Ceylon tea and Sri Lankan food.
The festival was extensively covered by the Japanese mainstream print and visual media and also on the internet and social media.
(Daily News)