Rural students benefit from Japanese benevolence

Five Japanese local government institutions recently donated 517 bicycles to be distributed among schoolchildren.

Japanese Ambassador Misukoshi Hideaki participated in the handing over ceremony at Water’s Edge Hotel, Battaramulla where Education Minister Premjayantha was also present.

The Japanese Embassy in Colombo said that these bicycles were donated through a project implemented by Child Fund Japan and ChildFund to assist rural school children who live far away from their schools.

The Embassy said that the funds required for the project were raised through what it called a cloud-funding. Five Japanese local authorities, namely Yokohama-city, Nagoya-city, Shinjuku-ward, Tama-ward and Shinagawa-ward provided used bicycles to needy school children in rural areas of Sri Lanka, specifically in Monaragala, Hambantota, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, Puttalam, Matale, Anuradhapura, and Trincomalee Districts. These second-hand bicycles were carefully inspected by ChildFund and generously maintained and repaired them so that children can use them in good condition.

In his address, Ambassador Mizukoshi underscored Japan’s unwavering commitment to strengthening socio-economic conditions in Sri Lanka

This handing over of bicycles demonstrates Japan’s ongoing commitment, and long-standing friendship with Sri Lanka, and it’s sustained partnership emphasises our dedication in contributing to the ongoing improvement of socio-economic assistance and services in vulnerable communities in Sri Lanka.