Emperor at Lankan exhibition [November 29 2008]

Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko paid a visit to the Sri Lanka Cultural Heritage Exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum last week. The Royals were received at the Tokyo National Museum by Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka, Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Japan Ranjith Uyangoda.

The Royal couple said that they were highly impressed with some of the artifacts being exhibited including 'Avalokatheshwara Bodhisatwa' statue and that the visit to the Sri Lanka Cultural Heritage Exhibition renewed fond memories of their visit as the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess to Sri Lanka in 1981, according to the Sri Lanka the Embassy in Tokyo.