Taste of Sri Lanka in Tokyo
[Friday, June 01, 2007 - 10.45 GMT]    

The fourth annual Sri Lanka Festival in Japan provided an important opportunity to Sri Lankan small- and medium-scale business entrepreneurs to promote their products in Japan and make contacts with prospective business partners.  

It was inaugurated in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park on Saturday May 26, by Chief Guest by Madam Akie Abe, wife of Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. She performed
the opening ceremony by lighting an oil lamp in keeping with Sri Lankan tradition.

Madam Abe attended the Sri Lanka Festival as the Chief Guest at the invitation of Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Japan Ranjith Uyangoda.  The two-day festival had the theme "Experience nature's best", and projected the total image of Sri Lanka, showing the country as an attractive destination for trade, investment, tourism, culture and highlights of natural attractions.  

Over 100,000 visitors, mainly Japanese, visited the Festival over the two days.  It provided the Japanese people with the opportunity of experiencing a taste of Sri Lanka right in the heart of Tokyo.  It also provided a window of opportunity to Sri Lankan small- and medium-scale business entrepreneurs to promote their products in Japan and make contacts with prospective business partners. 

More than 90 percent of the Festival budget was raised in Japan from Japanese and Sri Lankan sponsors and well wishers. The Festival was organized by the Sri Lanka Embassy with the support of Japanese and Sri
Lankan companies and Sri Lankan organizations, including Sri Lanka Tea Board, Sri Lanka Tourist Board, National Gem & Jewellery Authority, SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka Business Council of Japan and Sri Lanka
Association in Japan. 

The Festival was co-sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), Japan Bank for International
Corporation (JBIC), Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Shibuya Ward Office. 

The Minister of Rural Development and Self Employment Promotion Hon. S.B. Nawinna; Japanese Parliamentarian, former Chief Cabinet Secretary and President of the Japan-Sri Lanka Association Hon. Yasuo Fukuda and Madam Fukuda; Representative of the Japanese Government on Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka Ambassador Yasushi Akashi
also attended the Festival Opening Ceremony as honoured guests. The Ceremony was also attended by Sri Lankan and Japanese religious dignitaries, Asian Ambassadors based in Tokyo, former Japanese Ambassadors to Sri Lanka, senior officials of the Japanese Government, Japanese and Sri Lankan
sponsors, members of the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Associations and Business Councils, the media, and friends of Sri Lanka. 

Speaking at the opening Ambassador Ranjith Uyangoda thanked the Japanese government for the increased development assistance extended to Sri Lanka
which he observed was testimony to the confidence reposed by the Japanese Government in the 'Mahinda Chinthana' 10-year development strategy. 

The Festival had 105 trading stalls in which over 80 companies based in Japan and in Sri Lanka displayed and sold a range of Sri Lankan products. 

As in previous years, the highlight of the Festival was a dazzling cultural performance by Sri Lanka's 'Channa-Upuli' dance-percussion ensemble who performed selected extracts from different schools of Sri Lankan dance as well as modern improvisations, to packed audiences through the two days. Lively performances of 'taiko' (Japanese drums) and 'katana' (Japanese sword
fighting) by leading Japanese troupes blended well with the Sri Lankan performances which used Sri Lankan drums and traditional masks.  A fashion show featuring an assortment of colourful sarees and fabric was another attraction.

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Last Updated Date: June 01, 2007 - 10.45 GMT