Gangaramaya Temple and Japan’s Yoshioka Foundation unite to empower Sri Lankan youth

“Shoshinsha” Scholarship programme strengthens education and cultural friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan

• The first batch of students began the course in October 2024 and successfully completed it in July 2025. Recruitment for the second batch commenced in August 2025

The Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo, in collaboration with the Yoshioka Cultural Education Foundation of Japan, has launched a remarkable initiative to strengthen cultural and educational ties between Sri Lanka and Japan. The “Shoshinsha” Japanese Language Scholarship Programme — meaning “Beginners” in Japanese — will be celebrated at a special ceremony today at the Gangaramaya Temple, under the patronage of Venerable (Dr.) Kirinde Assaji Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Hunupitiya Gangaramaya Temple, Chief  Prelate (Malwatta Chapter), and Sanghanayaka of the Western Province.

The Shoshinsha Programme symbolises a new chapter in the friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan. It offers young Sri Lankans the opportunity to study the Japanese language and experience Japan’s culture while receiving financial support. Under this initiative, each selected student is awarded a monthly scholarship of Rs. 60,000, fully sponsored by the Yoshioka Cultural Education Foundation, with free language classes conducted at the Sri Jinarathana Technical Vocational Training Centre, founded by the Gangaramaya Temple in 1979.

The programme was first conceptualised following the visit of Mr. Masaki Yoshioka, Founder and President of the Yoshioka Cultural Education Foundation and Former Chairman of the Sendagaya Japanese Institute Group, to the Gangaramaya Temple in July 2023. During this meeting, Mr. Yoshioka and Ven. Dr. Assaji Thera identified education as a bridge that could connect the compassion of Buddhism with Japan’s disciplined learning culture.

First Batch Completes, Second Batch Begins

The first batch of students began the course in October 2024 and successfully completed it in July 2025. Recruitment for the second batch commenced in August 2025, followed by the selection of scholarship students for study in Japan in September 2025. The selection process was carried out by a distinguished panel comprising Venerable (Dr.) Kirinde Assaji, Chief Incumbent of the Gangaramaya Temple; Ms. Eguchi, First Secretary (Public Relations & Culture) at the Embassy of Japan; Dr. P.H.P. de Silva, Executive Committee Member of the Lanka–Japan Friendship Society; Ms. Satomi, Director of the Foundation Yoshioka Cultural Education Association in Japan; Mr. Chaminda Wikramarathne, Director of the Sri Jinarathana Foreign Employment Professional Skills Programme; and Mr. Sameera, Principal of the Sri Jinarathana Technical Vocational Training Centre. A preparatory course for the new students commenced in September 2025, and a six-month intensive Japanese language course will officially begin in November 2025. These programmes are designed not only to enhance language proficiency but also to immerse students in Japanese culture, discipline, and ethics — preparing them for higher studies and professional training opportunities in Japan.

About Mr. Masaki Yoshioka and His Foundation

After graduating from university, Mr. Masaki Yoshioka began his career in Japan’s financial sector and later became an acclaimed author with his book ‘Oil Dollars Unveiled: What Are the Massive Middle Eastern Funds Targeting?’ (1975, Tokei Sensho Series). He went on to establish the Sendagaya Japanese Institute Group, which became Japan’s first government-registered Japanese Language Teacher Training Institution, officially recognised by the Ministry of Education (MEXT).

In 2022, he founded the General Foundation Yoshioka Cultural Education Association, with the mission of supporting young people who wish to study Japanese language and culture and to serve as a bridge between Japan and the world. Since then, the Foundation has provided scholarships and cultural exchange opportunities to students from several countries, with Sri Lanka standing out as one of its most active partners.

Looking Ahead

The Shoshinsha Scholarship Programme has quickly become a symbol of educational partnership and goodwill between Japan and Sri Lanka. The Gangaramaya Temple and Yoshioka Foundation plan to expand the initiative, creating long-term pathways for Sri Lankan students to pursue higher education, internships, and career training in Japan. The collaboration continues to receive strong support from the Embassy of Japan, the Lanka–Japan Friendship Society, and other local and international institutions committed to promoting people-to-people exchange and sustainable education.

Distinguished Guests

The ceremony will be attended by several distinguished guests, including: Mr. Masaki Yoshioka – Guest of Honour, Founder and President, Yoshioka Cultural Education Foundation (Japan); Nalin Hewage (MP) – Deputy Minister of Vocational Education; Mr. Roshan Gamage – Senior Additional Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka; and Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya – Inspector General of Police (IGP).

A Friendship that Inspires

The Shoshinsha Programme stands as a living example of how compassion and education can unite nations. From the heart of Colombo to the classrooms of Tokyo, the friendship between Gangaramaya Temple and the Yoshioka Foundation continues to inspire — proving that knowledge truly has no borders.