Japanese delegation visits Hambantota Port

From left: MOFA Yusuke Tanaka, Japan Coast Guard Toru Kodama, MOFA Southwest Asia Division Director Shogo Yoshitake, HIPG COO Tissa Wickramasinghe, Embassy of Japan in SL Capt. Atsuhiro Moroe, HIPG Chief Security Officer Admiral Jayantha De Silva, and MOD Itsuki Sugihara

A high level government delegation from Japan visited the Hambantota Port recently and was ceremonially welcomed by the port operator, Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG). This visit by the Japanese delegation comes soon after the goodwill call of the Japanese naval vessel ‘Akebono’ on 9 April this year.  

The delegation who met with key officials of HIPG, were taken on a detailed inspection tour of the port.  During the hour long discussions held between the two parties, HIPG had the opportunity to demonstrate the high level of services offered by the port whilst outlining its future potential. The Japanese delegation accompanied by Capt. Atsuhiro Moroe from the Japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka, consisted of Shogo Yoshitake, Director, Southwest Asia Division of the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Yusuke Tanaka, MOFA, Itsuki Sugihara representing the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Toru Kodama, the Japan Coast Guard. HIPG was represented by Tissa Wickramasinghe, Chief Operating Officer and Admiral Jayantha De Silva, Chief Security Officer.