The ongoing collaboration between the University of Kelaniya, Kanazawa University, and Chukyo University continued to thrive with an enlightening academic session between the Department of Sport Science and Physical Education of the University of Kelaniya and Chukyo University, Japan, which was held on the 5^th of September 2024, at the Faculty of Social Sciences Auditorium, University of Kelaniya, focusing on sports management and cross-cultural exchanges.

This session showcased the importance of cross-cultural academic exchanges and underlined the commitment of all three universities to fostering academic excellence and cultural understanding through international collaboration.

During the event, undergraduates from Chukyo University presented an in-depth overview of their Sport Science and Management courses, sharing the latest academic opportunities available at their institution. As part of their presentation, the Japanese students shared the results of their research projects, offering insights into current trends and innovations in the field of sport science. Additionally, they highlighted their culturally specific interests, which led to a rich exchange of ideas between students from both Sri Lanka and Japan, promoting mutual understanding and appreciation of each other’s cultures.

A key highlight of the event was the collaborative session between academic staff from all three universities, focusing on the modification of the Annual Asian Child Survey for the years 2024 and 2025. This partnership ensured the survey's continued relevance and excellence in research, with contributions from experts across multiple academic disciplines.

Senior Lecturer Mrs. M. K. A. Anoma Rathnayake, Head of the Department of Sport Science and Physical Education, honoured the event as the Chief Guest. Additionally, Prof. Tetsuya Sagawa from Kanazawa University and Prof. Shohei Kokudo, Prof. Tohiru Koizo, and Prof. Takahiro Nakano from Chukyo University graced the event as Honourable Guests.

To recognize the contributions of the participating students, the Department of Sport Science and Physical Education of the University of Kelaniya awarded them certificates of appreciation along with tokens of gratitude.

Present at the occasion were Dr. Charika Wickramarathne, Programme coordinator, and the academic staff members of the Department of Sport Science and Physical Education of the University of Kelaniya.