Nurturing Leaders for Uncertain Times - JICA Chair Closing Session at University of Colombo with the Special Lecture by Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA

The Closing Session of JICA Chair program was successfully held at University of Colombo on 16th of February 2024. This is the second year of the JICA Chair Program at University of Colombo. 100 students received the certificates of completion of the program. The cumulative total number of students who completed the program in the past two years now reached 245 students.

This year, various lecturers with exceptional knowledge from Japan covered a broad range of topics with one goal in mind: to nurture the young generation who will be responsible for recovery from current economic crisis and future growth.

The new program was also included: the visit to the Colombo Dockyard, a leading shipbuilding company, which provided insight into Japanese-style company administration and human resource management and its huge role for the country’s economic development.

To conclude this year’s program, Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, President of JICA gave a lecture entitled "International Relations under Compound Crises: A Japanese Perspective”. For Sri Lanka's recovery and further growth in the future, in addition to structural reforms, balanced diplomacy in the international community is an important issue. This opportunity provides an insight into how Japan has shaped and maintained its international relations in the current complex crisis-affected society, and how young leaders can be the driving force behind the rebuilding of the nation.

In the panel discussion part, three students actively discussed what they have learned from JICA Chair Program which reviews the economic growth through agricultural development and modernization by introducing competition law and policy in Japan, etc. and how they can apply the Japanese development and modernization experience in Sri Lanka.

JICA will continuously strengthen human connectivity between Sri Lanka and Japan and empower the future leaders in Sri Lanka through JICA Chair Program.