Japan honours Janak Bandaranayake

The government of Japan yesterday (4) announced the conferment of “The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays” upon Janak Jeevantha Bandaranayake on 3 November 2020 for his contributions to promoting cultural exchange between Japan and Sri Lanka.

Bandaranayake worked at the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka over a span of three decades and contributed to deepening cultural ties between Japan and Sri Lanka.

He was also instrumental in inaugurating Sri Lanka’s national television network, Rupavahini through a Japanese grant aid in the early 1980s, which telecasted a globally renowned Japanese TV drama “Oshin” in 1998.

Bandaranayake’s fruits of labour particularly culminated in the successful celebrations of the 40th, 50th and 60th anniversaries of Japan-Sri Lanka Diplomatic Relations where he dedicated whole-heartedly to mark the milestones with various cultural events.

 His efforts to strengthen and further cement Japan-Sri Lanka relations began prior to his appointment at the Embassy where Mr. Bandaranayake served as a chief interpreter for the Sri Lanka Pavilion at the Tsukuba Expo held in Japan in 1985 and as a main organizer of cultural events for youth from various countries arriving in Sri Lanka onboard “Nippon Maru” as part of “Ship for World Youth” organized by the Government of Japan.