The Government of Japan has conferred ‘The Order of the Rising Sun Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon’ on Ms. Lalitha Rajapaksa, in recognition of her significant contribution to promoting Japanese culture and understanding of Japan in Sri Lanka. Ms. Rajapaksa became the first female president of Lanka-Japan Friendship Society (LJFS) in July 2004 and contributed immensely towards the development of LJFS.

She held leadership for about three years, during which she dedicated assistance to construct 12 houses and a community center for Tsunami victims in 2004, in collaboration with Japan Sri Lanka Association. After she resigned from her duties as the president, Ms. Lalitha Rajapaksa was honoured with the appointment as the first female vice patron of LJFS in 2010.