Sri Lankan community livin in Kansai Area (Kyoto, Osaka & Kobe) in Japan had the privilege to celebrate the opening of a new Sri Lankan consulate office for Kansai area Japan, and welcome the newly appointed Honorary Consul General of Sri Lanka for Kansai area, Mr. D.W. Aluthgamage, on June 21, 2009, with the presence of Sri Lankan Ambassador in Japan, His Excellency Mr. Jayantha Palipana.
Staff members of the Sri Lankan Embassy and nearly a hundred of Sri Lankan residents in Japan, representing both business and academic areas, were present for the ceremony. This event took place at the new Sri Lankan consulate office located in Hommachi, Osaka, which is now available for service to any Sri Lankan or interested Japanese community.
The event was opened with religious activities conducted by Honorable Chief Reverent for Japan; Pananwela Gnanalankara Thero, wishing success for the future works, and then followed by the speeches of the Ambassador and the Consul General. Mr. Vijitha Edirisinge, President of Kansai-Sri Lanka Friendship Association, gave the welcome address.
His Excellency, the Ambassador in his speech emphasized on the importance of building up the relationship between Sri Lanka and Japan while explaining the role of an Honorary Consulate position.
Mr. D. W. Aluthgamage during his address expressed his enthusiasm to contribute to the welfare of the Sri Lankans living in the area and to the development of Sri Lanka in various ways. The event was concluded with the thanking speech by Mr. Indika Bogoda, President of the Kansai-Sri Lanka Academic Forum, and the Ambassador headed for a VIP meeting with the Japanese business community at City Plaza Hotel, Osaka.
On the same day, the consulate office conducted a mobile consular service provided by the officers from the Sri Lanka embassy to the Sri Lankans living in Kansai area. In the evening, His Excellency Consul General hosted a dinner party for the Sri Lankan community in a Sri Lankan restaurant.