Friendship is a relationship of mutual affection between people and hence it can be considered the strongest bond among persons.
In other words it is a stronger form of interpersonal bond than an association and has been studied in academic fields such as communication, sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and philosophy.
Various academic theories of friendship have been proposed, including social exchange theory, equity theory, relational dialectics and attachment styles as well.
Although there are many forms of friendship, some of which may vary from place to place, certain characteristics are present in many types of such bonds.
Such characteristics include choosing to be with one another, enjoying time spent together, and being able to engage in a positive and supportive role to one another and moreover to help each other.
Somasiri Addara Pathiranage, the Director General of the Sri Lanka Agon-shu Friendship Foundation had cordial talks with the Most Ven Seiyu Kiriyama Thera of Japan in 1986 to form a mechanism to help Sri Lankan people.
 Students receiving scholarships at the BMICH under the 27th scholarship program |
As an outcome of the talks and with the blessings of Most Ven Seiyu Kiriyama Thera, about three decades ago, the Sri Lanka Agon-shu Friendship Foundation (SLAFF) was established with the aim of helping Sri Lankans especially helping children from poor families, who could not afford education due to economic hardships.
The SLAFF has been helping remote Buddhist temples and carrying out other social services such as conducting vocational trainings for youth and providing infrastructure facilities for remote areas.
The Agon-shu Chapter in Japan, which was founded by the Most Ven. Seiyu Kiriyama Thera, has been providing financial support and advice to implement these social services and welfare activities in Sri Lanka.
Although the Most Ven. Seiyu Kiriyama Thera passed away on August 29, 2016, the Agon-shu Chapter decided to support this cause continuously since it brings much benefit especially for under privileged persons.
These welfare activities are currently being carried out under the guidance of the religious leaders of the Agon-shu Chapter Most Ven. Fukada Seia Thera and the leadership of Chairperson of the Agon-shu Friendship Foundation of Japan, Wada Naoko.
The supporting moves have been carried out jointly by the Agon-shu Friendship Foundation of Japan and the SLAFF for nearly three decades.
“Besides the other assistances to people, the Foundation has been providing educational scholarships to Sri Lankan children from poor families throughout the country for over three decades.
Most of the scholars, who received Agon-shu scholarships, have reached the top of the education ladder holding white collar jobs in the State and private sectors.
The scholarship program has already been carried out for the 28th year Director General Pathiranage said.
Arrangements have been made to hold the 29th Annual Scholarship Awards of the Agon-shu Friendship Foundation this year as well. In line with the health guidelines the scholarship money of the students, who receive scholarships this year will be credited to their bank accounts and educational equipment will be delivered to their homes by the SLAFF.
Due to the prevailing Covid-19 epidemic, the scholarships were awarded last year in the same manner as well, Pathiranage said.
Before the country came under the Covid-19 epidemic there had been 27 annual Agon-shu Scholarship Awarding Ceremonies.
These ceremonies were held on a grand scale in BMICH.
However with the health regulations there won’t be a scholarship ceremony this year.
The Foundation will spend the remaining money, which was allocated for the ceremony, to offer more scholarships.
It has been possible to increase the number of annual scholarships with 63 new scholarships this year.
The Foundation offers an average of about 15,000 scholarships each year.
In addition a significant number of new scholarships for the scholars who complete school and higher education.
Arrangements have been made to award 17,331 scholarships this year, including 735 new scholarships, Director General Pathiranage said.
Scholarship recipients are selected with the assistance of district representatives of the SLAFF. The scholarships also include the educational equipment required for those children for one year. In addition, the families of the children will be given a bag of food items and this time the value of the bag has been increased by Rs. 500.
The SLAFF has been running a vocational training centre in Morawaka, Deniyaya to provide vocational training to Sri Lankan youth.
A significant number of youth is undergoing vocational training free in the fields of information technology, dress making.
sewing, threewheeler repairing, house wiring, carpentry, plumbing and a few other courses.