Pathfinder Foundation hosts webinar on Connectivity and Cooperation with Japan

Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the PF, Prof. H.D. Karunaratne, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, a Distinguished Fellow of the Pathfinder Foundation

Announces intention to set up a Japanese Studies Centre

The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) hosted a webinar featuring a group of experts from Japan to discuss shared interests and opportunities for cooperation in infrastructure development, connectivity in the Indian Ocean region, defence collaboration, and mutual recognition between Japan and Sri Lanka from a strategic perspective. Prof. Kei Hakata, a professor at the Faculty of Humanities at Seikei University in Tokyo, led the Japanese team.   

The programme was enhanced by insightful presentations and discussions on topics related to the central theme. In addition to Japanese experts, resource persons from the Pathfinder Foundation shared insights from a local perspective. Professor Kei Hakata and Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of the PF, provided introductory remarks. In recognition of the crucial role that Japan is set to play in Sri Lanka, he expressed its intention to establish a Centre for Japanese Studies to bolster Japan’s engagement in Sri Lanka.   

The session on Infrastructure Cooperation was taken up by Romesh David, CEO of South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT), and Ippeita Nishida of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.   Prof. Rohan Samarajiva, Founding Chair and CEO of LIRNEasia, Dr. R. H. S. Samaratunga, former Secretary of Finance and Treasury, and Prof. Pathmasiri Jayasena from Fukuoka University provided valuable insights on connectivity in the Indian Ocean Region.   Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage, former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy and a Distinguished Fellow of the Pathfinder Foundation, along with Professor Satoru Nagao of the Hudson Institute and Tokyo International University, addressed issues related to defence cooperation.   Ambassador (Retd.) Ravinatha Aryasinha, Executive Director of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute, together with Prof. H.D. Karunaratne, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Teruaki Aizawa from the National Defence Academy, a retired Captain of the JMSDF from Japan, and Professor Masaru Watanabe of Seikei University, who is also a former Ambassador of Japan, addressed the significant topic of Sri Lanka and Japan’s mutual recognition from a strategic perspective.   

The session concluded with several important recommendations to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, as Japan and Sri Lanka take determined steps to re-engage after a hiatus of several years. Japan has been a leading donor and development partner of Sri Lanka for many decades, and both sides agreed that traditional warm bilateral relations should persist for mutual benefit. The PF expressed its appreciation to the Japanese and Sri Lankan academics and experts who contributed to the further development of Japan-Sri Lanka relations.