The Government of Japan announced the conferment of “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette”, upon Mr. C. Lal De Alwis, Vice Patron of the Japan Sri Lanka Technical Cultural Association (JASTECA) in recognition of his contribution to disseminating Japanese culture and promoting understanding of Japanese culture.

His Excellency Mr. Kenichi Suganuma, Ambassador of Japan, formally conferred the order upon Mr. C. Lal De Alwis on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor at a special ceremony held on 22nd January, at the Ambassador’s residence in Colombo, in the presence of a distinguished gathering.

Mr. C. Lal De Alwis is one of Sri Lanka’s senior executives in the private sector. Mr. C. Lal De Alwis played a pioneering role together with the late Mr. Ian Dias Abeysinghe in establishing the Sri Lanka alumni of Association for Overseas Technical Scholarship (AOTS) and Asia Bunka Kaikan Dousoukai known as the Asia Cultural Association in 1965 for the purpose of channeling technical training opportunities for Sri Lankans. In February 1984, Mr. C. Lal De Alwis together with Mr. Ian Dias Abeysinghe and assisted by four others established the JASTECA. In 1993, he was elected as President of the JASTECA for four years respectively. In 1989, he was unanimously elected to chair the World Convention of AOTS Alumni Societies held in Yokohama, Japan. On his initiative as the Chairman of the World Convention of AOTS an independent fund known as the World Network of Friendship was established to assist developing countries. He is currently the Vice Patron of JASTECA. He was also instrumental in securing the assistance of the Asian Fight Oral Cancer organization based in Tokyo headed by Professor Kanichi Seto to fight against oral cancer among Sri Lankans resulting in the cure of over 250 victims.