Lanka's Ayurvedic medicine for Japan

BY Mohammed NAALIR

The support of the Government and other State institutions were crucial to invest in Sri Lanka and to take part in the ongoing development projects, former Japanese Parliamentarian and Chief of the Japanese delegation Zenjiro Kaneko said in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Observer.

A Japanese delegation comprising ten frontline Japanese investors are in the country. They are here to study the possibilities of introducing Ayurvedic medicine into Elders Homes in Japan

This idea has been mooted by the Consul General for Sri Lanka in Japan Medagama Gamage Sunil.

Sri Lankan traditional Ayurvedic medicines will be introduced in Elders Homes in Japan for illnesses, skin disease and birth defects.

The delegation consists of Yukinori Takahashi who is one of the five main Elders' Home operators in Japan. He plans to manufacture medicine using Sri Lankan herbs and Ayurvedic technology.

In addition, Japanese investors plan to start over 500 Ayurvedic Spa centres in Japan. They also plan to open Ayurvedic Spa centres even in Sri Lanka.

The delegation held discussions with Minister of Indigenous Medicines Salinda Dissanayake, Ayurvedic Drugs Corporation officers and Ayurvedic doctors in relation to this matter.

The delegation comprised 10 Japanese investors who expressed consent to invest in Sri Lanka at the inaugural ceremony of Japan-Sri Lanka Centre for Friendship Culture and Trade (JSCFCT). Another delegation will arrive in Sri Lanka through JSCFCT within two or three months.

Q: What is the purpose of your visit?

A: I came to Sri Lanka on an invitation extended by Consul General of Sri Lanka in Japan Gamage Sunil and Media Secretary of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Ministry, D.S. Narendra Rajapaksa.

Japan and Sri Lanka are long time friends and have bilateral ties for decades. Beyond, this traditional relationship, Japan wants to extend a helping hand to improve the economy of this country.

Economic development should be shared between the two countries. I am ready to provide assistance to Sri Lanka to achieve its goal. SCFCT will play a significant role. I will make use of the JSCFCT to help Sri Lanka.

As I felt that there was a necessity for a strong organistaion to reach our target. We set up the JSCFCT presided by the Consul General of Sri Lanka in Japan. I am the Commissioner General and a frontline Japanese tradesman is Deputy Chairman.

The Japanese Economic Federation, JICA, JETRO, Chamber of Commerce Japan, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Economic and Industries and other 136 frontline companies in Japan are the members of JSCFCT.

At the inaugural ceremony a large number of Japanese were present. The Japanese are close to Sri Lankans.

The arrival of Japanese investors declined due to the internal conflict. It brought Sri Lanka's economy to a halt. After the elimination of LTTE, the global community is looking at Sri Lanka favourably and international investors are gradually coming to Sri Lanka.

The JSCFCT will play a significant role to send Japanese investors to Sri Lanka.

Before the arrival of the Japanese delegation I arrived in Sri Lanka to study the situation to clear doubts of the investors.

Q: Can you explain your role in JSCFCT?

A: At the outset we formed the JSCFCT, secondly we plan to implement various welfare and development projects in Sri Lanka. The proposed projects will be gradually implemented. Now that global network is available, it will make our job easier.

We plan to work in Sri Lanka with the help and guidance of the Consul General of Sri Lanka in Japan.

Q:What will the delegation do here?

A: The Japanese delegation comprising 10 frontline investors in Japan arrived in Sri Lanka last Wednesday. They run Elders Homes in Japan, they are large scale Elders Homes. In addition they run various other industries.

The focus of the delegation is to introduce Sri Lankan Ayurvedic medicines to Elders homes in Japan. Those homes are different from Elders Homes in Sri Lanka.

Those are run for wealthy people in Japan.

People in Japan are not aware about the peaceful situation in Sri Lanka. They still think there is conflict. The JSCFCT will create awareness among Japanese about Sri Lanka.

The JSCFCT has organised a series of awareness campaigns throughout Japan to create awareness among Japanese about Sri Lanka.

The JSCFCT focuses on commercial tourism to attract more Japanese investors to Sri Lanka.

There are two types of tourists, holiday-makers and business tourists.

Business tourists will get an opportunity to study about Sri Lanka and as a result they may be willing to invest in Sri Lanka. The JSCFCT also follows the same practice in Japan.

When I was a member of the Japanese Parliament, I was assigned to deal with the affairs between Mushakkua in Chanhai, China and Japan. In the past around 30 Japanese companies invested in Mushakkua but today there are over 3,000 industries.

As my party is not in power and preparing for the next election I have a some time to deal with these matters. I am willing to use my free time for the sake of Sri Lanka.

The JSCFCT or the Consul General or myself can't do this alone. The support of the Sri Lankan Government is crucial to implement the proposed projects successfully.

Q: How do you plan to help Sri Lanka in its on-going development projects?

A: I will be staying in Sri Lanka for a week. I will study the economic state of Sri Lanka and ways and means to offer possible support.

I toured the Hambantota district and did a thorough study of the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa international harbour, the Mattala Airport and other projects in the district.