

Japanese
Education /日本語教育
Japanese
Education日本語教育
I would like to introduce a "good story about Japanese language education" that happened in Sri Lanka.
The Foundation
of the Friendship

As the countries of East, both Sri Lanka and Japan have inherited a common cultural heritage. As ancient Buddhist countries, both countries share a culture molded by Buddhist values. Originally, Buddhism was transmitted to a number of far Eastern countries including Japan and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka got this great spiritual gift from India during the time of Emperor Asoka, who ruled in the 3rd century B.C. As well as Japan received this great message from China and Korea.
The friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Japan have, thus, been long-standing. However, a new and vibrant era of friendship between the two countries started during the 1951 San Francisco Peace Conference of World War 2, with the purpose of considering the grant of freedom to Japan. At that conference, former President J.R. Jayewardene, strongly advocated granting freedom to Japan. While facing the great opposition of many powerful nations, President Jayewardene’s voice at the conference was remarkable. In fact, it was the Buddhist sentiment ‘Loving kindness ‘that impelled him to be generous towards Japan. Quoting the timeless words of Buddhism, he said,
“Hatred is not ceased by hatred, but by love alone”
This brings out ‘good foundation of friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan’ with the gaining of freedom. So Japanese people made an astonishing and quick recovery from the incalculable losses suffered as a result of the War. Today, Japan is regarded as one of the great economic powers. If not the greatest, in the world, Japan has demonstrated its indomitable will and spirit as a nation and today Sri Lanka has in it as a true and reliable friend.
By Dr. Nimal Senaratne
(The above Article was published in Japan “SIFA Intershity” Newspaper, 30/05/1994, Page 04)
A new “Japanese Bridge”
joining North and South in Sri Lanka.

Yes, a super bridge that may join the war-torn North and South in Sri Lanka together is presently being joyfully constructed in Jaffna. The miraculous raw materials used in constructing this super bridge are nothing but Japanese language and the Culture ingrained in it. In Japanese language these are known as Nihongo, Bunka and Aisatsu.
The foundation for this bridge was laid in March 2023. It was, as a matter of fact, the launching of a project for teaching Japanese language to youngsters from economically backward families in Jaffna district who receive ‘Samurdhi” assistance from the government. They are to be given an intensive training in Japanese language for six months and then provided with further six months training preparing them for N4 examination. Meanwhile, they will also to be given a suitable vocational training making them qualified to be employed in Japan. Rules and regulations for this procedure are being made by mutual agreement between Sri Lanka and Japan.
This new programme is conceived by the Minister of Social Empowerment, Honorable Anupa Pasqual and now successfully launched in 19 centers in 11 districts in Sri Lanka. In the district of Jaffna 33 students have already started mastering Japanese Language. Before this they were made conversant only in their mother tongue, Tamil language. However, after studying Japanese language for a few months they have acquired reasonable competency in writing and speaking Japanese. Now they are in a position to communicate with young people of other districts who are also able to speak in Japanese language. The happy news is that they have now become very good friends.
This is something new and a thing to be excited. Formerly it was unimaginable in Sri Lanka where people were disastrously distanced according to races and regions after the unfortunate 30-year war. Young people in the two regions who were not seeing eye-to-eye now beginning to understand each other’s culture and developing healthy friendships. They even visit each other without any suspicion. This unprecedented mutual understanding is made possible because of the new language they are acquiring - Japanese. Previously, Sinhala and Tamil people in Sri Lanka were looking at each other with prejudice and suspicion. Even for a very small petty issue they were ready to argue, fight, even using dangerous weapons and sometimes burning property as well. Now that they can communicate in a language which does not create feelings of superiority or enmity they are beginning to understand and appreciate each other as human beings. So, it looks like that study of Japanese language and culture has performed a miracle which neither Sinhala, Tamil, Arabic or even English languages could not do. All cultural misunderstandings seem to vanish and they all begin to enjoy the new “bridge”
Formerly they used to look, not only at politicians and intellectuals but also at general public of other races, as cruel animals. Now the picture is positively changing. Jaffna students deck the necks of politicians coming from south with garlands made by themselves up to the nose levels and respectfully salute with trust and love. When these young people enjoy each other’s company, their behavior is not different from Japanese youth except for the skin color. Thanks to the Japanese language and culture project, we are achieving success in our dream of creating a peaceful Sri Lanka for everyone to enjoy togetherness and live in harmony.
Reported by,
Dr. Nimal Senaratne (Ph.D)
Chief Academic Coordinator of the Nationwide Japanese Language Teaching Project, Ministry of Social Empowerment, Sri Lanka.