The new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to Japan, Professor Dammika Ganganath Disanayake presented his Credentials to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito on 22nd October 2015. The Ceremonial event was held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo where the Ambassador was accompanied the Commercial Counsellor, Second Secretary and the Attache of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo, Japan.
Ambassador Ganganath Disanayake was accompanied by Mr.Y.Akimoto, the Grand Master of the Ceremonies of the Imperial Household, to the Imperial Palace in a ceremonial procession by an Imperial horse-drawn carriage. Hon. Ms. Tamayo Marukawa, Minister of Environment of Government of Japan attended as “Minister in Attendance” at the Credential Ceremony. All related ceremonial activities of the ceremony had been arranged in a dignified manner according to the traditions of the Imperial Household Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MoFA).
Following the presentation of Credentials, as customary, His Majesty the Emperor engaged in an informal discussion with Ambassador Disanayake without an interpreter, thus departing from the conventional practice, which made the conversation much longer and more comprehensive, prior to introducing the accompanying diplomatic officers and Attaché of the Embassy. Ambassador Disanayake conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the Government of Sri Lanka and His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena to HIM Emperor and discussed about the bilateral relations that existed between the two countries. Ambassador Disanayake gave an expansive overview of recent political and economical developments of Sri Lanka and HIM the Emperor extended his best wishes for the future prosperity of the Government as well as wished Ambassador every success in his new assignment as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Japan. HIM Emperor recalled fondly of his visit to Sri Lanka in 1980s as the Crown Prince and appreciated the warm hospitality extended by the Sri Lankans and expressed that the meeting he had with late former President J.R. Jayawardena, during the said visit.
Ambassador stated the opportunity had in 1985, to meet H.I.M Emperor as the Youth Representative of the Government of Sri Lanka during a programme of the World Youth. After the formalities of the Official Ceremony, the Imperial Household Agency handed over the invitation extended by the HIM the Emperor to attend the elite Garden Party scheduled to be held on 12th November 2015.
Ambassador Disanayake is an Associate Professor of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura and had served as Chairman to the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation and Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and served as Chairman/CEO to the Independent Television Network (ITN) prior to diplomatic assignment. Ambassador Disanayake had been served as Media Advisor to Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka as well as Media Secretary to the Office of the Leader of Opposition.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Tokyo
7 December 2015
