ML News

: ML News; 20 February 2025

An insightful discussion with Mr. Yohei Sasakawa, the president of the Nippon foundation and Sasakawa foundation conducted by Prof. Dilrukshi Rathnayake

Summary of the Discussion of Prof. Dilrukshi Rathnayake and Mr.Yohei Sasakawa

Mr.Yohei Sasakawa, the current President of the Nippon Foundation and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation is known for his extensive social service work worldwide with a particular focus on Sri Lanka. He holds deep gratitude towards Sri Lanka as it was the first country to support Japan after World War II. He also appreciates Sri Lanka's support for Japan during challenging times such as the Tsunami disaster. Due to his profound respect and thankfulness he is now committed to supporting Sri Lanka with the hope of seeing it flourish and succeed in multiple ways.

During the discussion Mr. Sasakawa shared the reason behind his commitment to charity work. Having experienced the devastating effects of World War II, where thousands of people lost their lives and countless buildings were destroyed, he and his mother were fortunate to survive. Despite these challenges he and his mother were fortunate to survive. This experience inspired him to dedicate his life to helping others. Mr.Sasakawa emphasized that his charitable efforts are not influenced by religion, ethnicity, or nationality; his sole purpose is to assist people in overcoming their challenges.

A key objective of his work is to create a leprosy-free world. His significant contributions to global health have earned him the title of “Goodwill Ambassador” from the World Health Organization. In Sri Lanka, Mr.Sasakawa has made notable contributions to the education sector by building and reconstructing schools, particularly in the North-East region. He firmly believes that education is vital, as students are the future leaders of society. Additionally, Sasakawa admires the natural beauty of Sri Lanka and is eager to support the development of the country’s tourism sector while promoting Sri Lanka in Japan. He also highlighted the importance of fostering international relations and cultural exchange between Japan and Sri Lanka.

: ML News; 19 February 2025

Yasuragi 2024

The Japanese Unit of the University of Kelaniya, Department of Modern Languages, organized a special Japanese Day on the 1st of January 2025 to celebrate the Japanese New Year. The event was held at the university premises and brought together 60 students from the 1st year to the 4th year.

The day began with a hands-on activity where students made Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, under the guidance of Prof. Dilrukshi Rathnayake, Professor in Japanese, and Ms. Minami Munakata, Japanese Language Specialist. This was followed by an exciting lineup of traditional Japanese activities, including Kakizome (the first calligraphy of the year), Karuta (a traditional Japanese card game), and quizzes about Japanese culture.

For lunch, students enjoyed Japanese-style Obento (lunch boxes), giving them a taste of Japanese culinary traditions and adding to the cultural experience. The event was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn and experience Japanese traditions, fostering a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture while strengthening their connection with the language they study.

: ML News; 10 February 2025

Celebrating Japanese New Year: A Cultural Day at the University of Kelaniya.

: ML News; 13 February 2024

Book reading by the German novelist Ronya Othmann

The Centre for International Affairs and the German Section of the Department of Modern Languages were privileged to host the German novelist Ms. Ronya Othmann, author of the best-selling novel “Die Sommer” (The Summers) at the university on 7th February 2024 at the Boardroom of the Faculty of Humanities.

Ms. Othmann read from her original German version of the novel to the staff and students of German and presented some of her poems. The audience comprised the staff of the German section and students of German from all three years of the BA Degree Programme and the BA Honours Programme.

Senior Professor Neelakshi C. Premawardhena, Director, Centre for International Affairs welcomed the gathering. Mr. Stefan Winkler, the Director of the Goethe Institute, Colombo introduced the author Ms. Ronya Othmann. Ms. Marie Waarlo, the Librarian of the Goethe Institute was also present at the occasion. The Sinhala translation of the novel “Die Sommer” has been compiled by Ms. Ashani Ranasinghe, a Visiting Lecturer in German at the Department of Modern Languages.

Following the reading from the novel and the poems staff and students were involved in a fruitful discussion session with the author. This interactive dialogue facilitated a deeper understanding of her work and fostered a meaningful exchange of ideas.

The Centre for International Affairs and the German Section of the Department of Modern Languages are grateful to Ms. Ronya Othmann for sharing her literary works and extend their sincere thanks to the Director, Goethe Institute Mr. Stefan Winkler and the Librarian Ms. Marie Waarlo for providing this rare opportunity to the staff and students of German at the university.