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Published: December 1, 2005
After competing in the Asian Porsche Carrera Cup in Macau on November 20, Japanese-based world-renowned racing driver Dilantha Malagamuwa arrived in Taiwan on November 29 for a weeklong visit accompanied by his Japanese advisor Yoshiyuki Hayashi.
Mr. Malagamuwa won the 1995 Japanese N1 Endurance Series Class 2 championship driving a BMW M3 series car. He became a Porsche Carrera Cup driver in 2004.
Mr. Malagamuwa is passionate about Taiwan, and thinks that Sri Lanka can learn from Taiwan's advancements in various fields, indeed, that the whole world should know of them. For this reason, his Porsche racing car is decorated with an ROC national flag and a "Visit Taiwan" sign (see attachment). Furthermore, he hopes to introduce the natural beauty and prosperous development he has witnessed on the beautiful island of Taiwan to the people of Sri Lanka.
During his visit to Taiwan, Mr. Malagamuwa will meet local racing fans, share his racing experiences, and offer his opinions about the future development of this sport in Taiwan. He will also appear in the square in front of the Office of the President at 2 p.m. on December 1 to be photographed with his beloved car and answer questions from the media. At 10:30 a.m. on December 2, Mr. Malagamuwa will attend the press conference for the 966 Racing Car of Sri Lanka at the Breeze Center in Taipei, where his car will be exhibited over the following few days.
Mr. Malagamuwa will also meet Mr. Nilanga, the Diyawadana Nilame (keeper) of Sri Lanka's national treasure, the Sakyamuni Buddha tooth relic. Mr. Nilanga is in Taipei to attend a religious conference at the invitation of the Museum of World Religions. The two men's visits indicate that relations are growing ever closer between Sri Lanka and Taiwan, and that, in the future, bilateral exchanges can develop from the religious and sporting spheres to include economic, trade, and technological interactions.
As Sri Lanka's top racing driver, Mr. Malagamuwa's visit to Taiwan has attracted the attention of Sri Lankan sports reporters. With the assistance and organization of the Government Information Office, important Sri Lankan media organizations including Rupavahini TV, the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon, Sumathi Newspapers, and the Daily Mirror have all sent correspondents to cover this news event.
For more information about Mr. Malagamuwa's trip to Taiwan, please contact Peter Pan of the GIO's Department of International Information. (Tel: 02-33567835; fax: 02-23587300; e-mail: cyp@mail.gio.gov.tw)
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