I am very happy to hold the Sakura Science Exchange program at Okayama University supported by JST (Japan Science and Technology Agency) for Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. Even though students could not come to Okayama University because of the COVID-19 condition this year, our technology make our geographical distance closer. This online exchange program will enhance our cooperation and collaboration definitely. 

This is the third Sakura Science event for Sri Lankan students. The first delegates visited us from The Open University of Sri Lanka in 2018 and then from University of Ruhuna in 2019. These opportunities are really good for matching a student with his/her suitable host professor. Currently, two Sri Lankan students study very hard at my laboratory.

Through this program, I hope many highly motivated students from Sri Lanka come to Master and Ph.D programs at Okayama University in the near future.