At the reception of the JDS Scholarship Fellows 2020

Mr. P Algama, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, Economy and Policy Development
Mr. TANAKA Fusato, Chief Representative, JICA Sri Lanka Office
Operational Committee members of Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship Program
JDS scholarship fellows
Distinguished guests, Ladies & Gentlemen
 
It is my great pleasure to be with you today, and extend my warm congratulations to the 15 fellows of Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resources Development Scholarship (JDS) on their successful completion of the Master’s degree program in Japan. I also highly appreciate the invaluable contribution of officials and professors, including the Operational Committee members of JDS Program, for making this program a success.  
 
As a long standing friend, Japan remains committed to extending assistance in response to the genuine development needs of Sri Lanka. As H.E President Gotabaya Rajapaksha emphasizes, “human resources will be the foundation for creating a prosperous country”. Sharing this view, Japan has placed great emphasis on human resource development via many capacity building and skills development programs in order to accelerate long-term sustainable economic development.
 
 
The JDS program, which started in 2009, is one of the major components of such cooperation, and up to now, 120 Sri Lankan officials have successfully completed their Master’s degree programs under this scholarship. The JDS fellows present here today pursued subjects of vital importance to Sri Lanka’s development, including public policy and finance, development economics, business management, environment and disaster management.  
 
In addition to pursuing studies and research, I believe that the JDS fellows gained better understanding of Japan, including its nature, society, and people. And, I hope you were able to make a good network with peers during your stay since promoting mutual understanding and friendship between young people of the two countries is another goal of the JDS program.
 
I’d like to request that you make full use of your academic knowledge and practical skills gained through this opportunity in performing your duties and share your two years’ experiences in Japan with your colleagues.
          
Finally, I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and let me once again congratulate on your successful completion of this program, and we would like to count on you as future goodwill Ambassadors for further strengthening the friendship and mutual understanding between our two countries. Have a pleasant evening and enjoy Japanese food.
 
Thank you very much.