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An educational field visit to Toyota Lanka (Private) Limited was organised on 25 February 2026 under the JICA Chair Program for participating undergraduate students. Toyota Lanka is the official distributor and service provider in Sri Lanka for vehicles manufactured by Toyota Motor Corporation. Its management and administrative practices are strongly influenced by Japanese organisational principles such as efficiency, teamwork, discipline, and continuous improvement. These practices reflect the philosophy of the Toyota Production System, which emphasises quality service, employee responsibility, and customer satisfaction. Hence, this field visit provided students with a valuable opportunity to observe these Japanese management practices in action within a real-world corporate environment.
Prior to the visit, a preliminary session was held at the Senate Hall, College House, where students were introduced to key Japanese workplace management concepts. The session commenced with welcome remarks by Dr , Director of the International Office. This was followed by an address by Mr Takuma Noguchi, Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who spoke about JICA’s role and contributions in fostering educational and development partnerships. Thereafter, Mr Takeda, Project Manager – Value Chain Business Development at Toyota Lanka, addressed the audience. A lecture was then delivered by Mr Dilshard Mohammed, Head of Human Resources at Toyota Lanka, who spoke on the company’s corporate development, operational structure, organisational culture, and future directions. He was supported by Mr Gayan Tissera, Head of Talent at Toyota Lanka.

Following the preliminary session, the students, JICA officials, and staff members from the International Office of the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ proceeded to the Toyota Lanka facility in Wattala. Upon arrival, they were warmly welcomed by senior officials of the company before commencing the guided tour of the facility. Mr Nihal Palliyaguruge, Assistant General Manager – Technical Training, personally guided the students through several operational sections of the facility, explaining key processes and functions. Among the various areas visited, many students found the vehicle repair and servicing section particularly interesting, as it provided a close look at the technical expertise and precision involved in automotive maintenance.
A highlight of the visit was the opportunity to meet Mr Manohara Athukorala, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Toyota Lanka. During his interaction with the students, he shared valuable insights from his professional journey and offered inspiring reflections on leadership and dedication. The field visit marked the conclusion of activities under the JICA Chair Program 2025/2026. The successful completion of the program reflects the continued collaboration between the ÌÇÐÄÔ­´´ and JICA Sri Lanka in promoting an understanding of Japan’s unique and valuable development experience for our undergraduates.