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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.