Sunday Times 2
Prof. Dissanayake conferred Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun award
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In a ceremony held on November 9 in Kandy, Japan’s Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki conferred ‘The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon’ on Prof. Upul Bandara Dissanayake.
The Order of Rising Sun Award is one of the most prestigious and oldest awards conferred by Japan. The decoration was initiated in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The award was initially designed, only as a national decoration, and extended to foreign citizens in 1981.
The award of the order is administered by the decoration bureau of the cabinet office headed by the Prime minister of Japan.
The esteemed recognition pays tribute to Prof. Dissanayake’s exceptional contributions in fostering enduring academic partnerships between Japan and Sri Lanka.
Prof. Dissanayake, a distinguished scholar renowned for his leadership as the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya and Chairman of the Board of University Administration, has been instrumental in fortifying bilateral ties between the two nations, specifically in dental sciences and wider academic collaboration.
Under his pioneering guidance, the JICA project “Dental Education and Oral Health Promotion of the Faculty of Dental Sciences” was successfully materialised, resulting in the establishment of cutting-edge clinical and research facilities at the University of Peradeniya. These advancements served as a pivotal platform for bolstering academic exchanges with Japanese counterparts at various esteemed universities in Japan.
Ambassador MIZUKOSHI expressed hope that Prof. Dissanayake would continue to play a pivotal role in nurturing and enriching the enduring relationship between the two nations in the years to come. This esteemed accolade not only honours Professor Dissanayake’s remarkable achievements but also serves as a testament to the steadfast commitment to fostering enduring and prosperous relations between Japan and Sri Lanka.