JASTECA holds 35th AGM

The Japan Sri Lanka Technical and Cultural Association (JASTECA), established as an alumnus of the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS), held its 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently, at Galadari Hotel Colombo. 

The newly-appointed Ambassador for Japan in Sri Lankay Mizukoshi Hideaki graced the occasion as one of his first official engagements upon arriving in Sri Lanka. PIM Faculty Member/Management Consultant Dr. Samantha Rathnayake delivered the keynote address on ‘Unrelenting Business Disruptions And Productivity As A Strategic Process’.

Addressing the audience, JASTECA President Gamini Marambe said, “While looking back with satisfaction on the progress made so far, we must place on record the commitments and sacrifices made by the people who laid the groundwork and foundation towards the success of the JASTECA. Even during the pandemic, all our efforts were to keep all our members connected with us. As a result, we made ourselves successful despite various challenges.”

In his address, JASTECA General Secretary Anuruddha Gamage mentioned that despite the pandemic restricting the JASTECA’s physical activities, the JASTECA took the initiative to reinvent the reality by changing and adapting to web-based training programmes and seminars. Furthermore, further efforts will be taken to continue promoting and developing Japanese management systems to ensure it is implemented in corporates and workplaces as key management development and productivity enhancement philosophy, to face challenges in an ever highly volatile business environment.”

JASTECA Trust Holdings (G) Ltd Chairman Sunil Wijesinghe also addressed the gathering, highlighting the key milestones of the JASTECA. The briefing was appreciated by the ambassador, as it brought him up to speed with the vital role the JASTECA plays in the Japan-Sri Lanka relationship. 

The JASTECA is Sri Lanka’s alumni association of past trainees of Japan’s Association for Overseas for Technical Corporation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS) and its predecessor. It is the foremost organisation that has been a catalyst in transferring Japanese technology and Japanese management systems to Sri Lanka from Japan.