Japanese govt mints Rs.1,000 Commemorative Silver Coin
The Tokyo Bureau of Japan Mint of the government of Japan minted a 1,000 Rupee Silver Coin to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. The so-called, the First-Strike of the issuance of 1,000 Rupee Commemorative Silver Coin Ceremony was held at the Japan Mint of Tokyo Bureau on October 4.
The Japan Mint, the Government entity which issues coins, has received an order to make Commemorative Silver Coins by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to be issued to mark the said 60th year anniversary. This ceremony was attended by Senior Ministers, Vice Ministers, Members of Parliament, members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior bureaucrats and technocrats of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance and select financial institutions.
The First-Strike of the issuance of the said 1,000 Rupee Commemorative Silver Coin was conducted by Ambassador to Sri Lanka in Japan Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, the former Japanese Prime Minister and Japan - Sri Lanka Association Honorary Chairman Yasuo Fukuda, former Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister and Japan - Sri Lanka Friendship Parliamentarian League Chairman Hirofumi Hirano and Vice Minister of Finance Michiyoshi Yunoki, respectively.
Ambassador Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda expressed the the Sri Lankan Government's gratitude to the Japanese government for the issuance of a Silver Coin to commemorate the 60th year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. He said this was a compelling reflection and a testament of the depth and the breadth of cordiality and congeniality of the relations between the two countries.
He further added the two countries had steadfastly and resolutely stood by each other, both in good times and at testing times assisting and cooperating with each other. Ambassador Karannagoda also underlined and highlighted the watershed comment made by the then Finance Minister of Sri Lanka at the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1951, the recent visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of Japan to Sri Lanka after almost two decades, cooperation and support extended by the Government of Japan at the Human Rights Council in March of 2012, the assistance extended by Japan when the Indian Ocean Tsunami struck Sri Lanka in 2004 and the myriad of assistance, cooperation and Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) given by the Government of Japan over the last several decades among others.
Former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said visited Sri Lanka on several occasions and had witnessed its economic advancement, after the country achieved peace and stability.
He said the depiction on the Commemorative Silver Coin was the Kotmale Hydro Power Plant, which was an ODA grant by the Government of Japan.
He said the depiction of the Kotmale Power Plant epitomizes and characterizes the depth of relations between the two countries. Fukuda commended and praised Sri Lanka and Ambassador Admiral Karannagoda for the efforts extended during the Great East Japan Earthquake by assisting the affected people. Former Cabinet Minister Hirofumi Hirano said he first Sri Lanka two decades ago and has been a regular visitor since then. He praised Sri Lanka's progress especially since the defeat of terrorism.
He said being the Chairman of Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Parliamentarian League enabled him to meet and interact with a number of diverse political parties and political leaders from Sri Lanka. He underscored the fact that he was keen and fervent to further strengthen the already cordial and strong relations between the two countries.
Vice Minister of Finance Michiyoshi Yunoki said the occasion symbolizes the cordiality of the relations between the two countries.
A message from Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba read by Deputy Director General of Asia Pacific Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kanji Yamanouchi on the occasion, highlighted the significance of the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951 and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka.
Foreign Minister Gemba stressed in his message that Sri Lanka is focusing and addressing the cogent and demanding issues, such as, rehabilitation, reconciliation and resettlement particularly in the North and East. The message enunciated the economic and commercial advancement of the country since the conflict ended in May of 2009. He said he was impressed by Sri Lanka's growth rate. He said there was a marked increase in the number of Japanese tourists visiting Sri Lanka and reiterated the Japanese government's desire to strengthen cultural, political and economic ties with Sri Lanka.
The message concluded by stating that the Kotmale Hydro Power Plant depicted on the Commemorative Silver Coin, which was emblematic of the future relations between the two countries, since the said Plant was financed by an ODA grant by Japan.
The President of Japan Mint stated that this was not only an occasion to issue a Commemorative Silver Coin but was also a memorable occasion for the Japan Mint.
The First-Strike Ceremony of the Commemorative Silver Coin to mark the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Sri Lanka was so unique since this was the first occasion that the Japan Mint printed a Commemorative Coin for a foreign country. On the same note, this was only the second occasion that the Japan Mint printed a foreign coin. This, itself, reflects and resonates the close relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. Envoys and Ambassadors from India, Bangladesh and Nepal and a representative from the Maldives were present at this ceremony.
Source: Daily News (08th October 2012)
