Japan commends Sri Lankan Lal De Alwis’promotion of bilateral ties

Lal De Alwis, Japan Sri Lanka Technical Cultural Association (JASTECA) Vice Patron has been commended by the Japanese government for his contribution to the promotion of bilateral ties between the two countries, a media release issued by the Japanese embassy in Colombo stated.

His name was announced on July 24 when the Japanese Foreign Ministry released the list of recipients for the Foreign Minister’s Commendation for 2014.

The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups for their outstanding achievements in international fields, to acknowledge their contribution to the promotion of friendship between Japan and the respective country, the release noted.

Mr. De Alwis, also a well-known business leader, played a pioneering role together with the late Ian Dias Abeysinghe in establishing the Sri Lanka alumni of AOTS and ABKD known as the Asia Cultural Association in 1965 for the purpose of channeling technical training opportunities to Sri Lankans.

In February 1984, Mr. De Alwis together with Mr. Abeysinghe and assisted by four others established the Japan Sri Lanka Technical Cultural Association (JASTECA).

On his initiative as the Chairman of the World Convention of AOTS an independent fund known as the WNF was established to assist developing countries. He is currently the Vice Patron of JASTECA and a Trustee of the JASTECA Trust. He was also instrumental in securing the assistance of the Asian Fight Oral Cancer organisation based in Tokyo headed by Professor Kainichi Seto to fight against oral cancer among Sri Lankans resulting in the cure of over 250 victims.

Mr. De Alwis was the President of the National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka for a period of two years from 2009 to 2011 and was also elected to chair the Joint Chambers Business Forum comprising all the trade chambers of Sri Lanka. Mr. de Alwis has served as Managing Director and CEO of several prominent companies in Sri Lanka.