The G7 members and outreach partners pose for a family photo yesterday in Ise-Shima, Nagoya, Japan

President Maithripala Sirisena at the Outreach Session of the G7 seated next to G7 2016 Summit host and member Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and in front of US President Barak Obama in Ise-Shima, Nagoya, Japan -Pix by Sudath Silva

By Nisthar Cassim in Ise-Shima, Nagoya, Japan

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday called for greater development support and investors from G7 countries for Sri Lanka as the Unity Government has created a viable path for democracy and prosperity.

The clarion call was made by President during his address at the Outreach Session of the G7 and Outreach partners in Ise-Shima, Nagoya, Japan.

Seated next to G7 2016 Summit host and member Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and in front of US President Barak Obama, President Sirisena said: “With a revolutionary change of governance, my Government has succeeded in creating the path for viable development environment and for reconciliation in a multifaceted society.”

“I am aware how G7 countries have appreciated the change we created,” the President added at the session, which was also attended by UK Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, France President François Hollande, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Having detailed a host of positive political and democratic changes the country has seen since the landmark 8 January 2015 presidential and 17 August 215 general elections, the President told G7 leaders: “We lack finances for extensive development efforts and therefore seek developed nations and multilateral and bilateral investors to invest in Sri Lanka.”

“Even as I speak to you today, Sri Lanka is recovering from one of the worst floods and landslides we ever experienced. Immediately several countries offered help in our rescue and reconstruction efforts. We thank them and look forward for more development commitments as the destruction is severe,” the President revealed at the session held prior to a working luncheon.

Sirisena expressed the belief and hope that the G7 Summit of 216 will look at countries such as Sri Lanka focusing on all these fields. “Your invitation to me would yield real benefits beyond bounds, if serious attention is drawn to our problems,” he emphasised.

Sirisena was the first Sri Lankan leader to be invited to a G7 Summit and Sri Lanka was included along with four other Asian countries as Outreach Partners for the 2016 gathering. In acknowledgement of this achievement, President Sirisena said: “Japan’s formal announcement that G7 will explore what is needed to sustain the wellbeing of Asia to steer economic growth highlighted the relevance of Sri Lanka being here. It endorses Prime Minister Abe’s reasoning for selecting us.”

The outreach session of the two-day G7 Summit which concluded yesterday also saw heads of Government from Indonesia (President Joko Widodo), Vietnam (Prime Minister Ngyun Xuan Phuc), Bangladesh (Premier Sheikh Hasina) and Laos (Prime Minister Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith), as well as from Chad (President Idriss Deby Itno) and Papua New Guinea (Premier Peter O’Neill). 

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim, OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria and ADB President Takehiko Nakao were also present at the session.

Following the session, all of G7 members and outreach partners posed for a family photo. During the session as well as working luncheon, President Sirisena was seen interacting closely with all of G7 leaders.

The G7 leaders following the successful conclusion of the 2016 summit issued a 332-page declaration assessing the status of and recommending various measures on the world economy and global trade; infrastructure; migration and refugees; health; women; cyber security; anticorruption; climate change; energy and foreign policy; and key global political developments including countering terrorism and violent extremism.

Ahead of yesterday’s engagement with G7 leaders, President Sirisena also held bilateral talks with Indonesian President and Vietnamese Prime Minister on Thursday and will have a discussion with the Bangladesh Premier today.

Accompanied by five Ministers – Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake – the President also held discussions with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) yesterday and met several Japanese companies.

President and the Sri Lankan delegation will leave Nagoya later today following the successful conclusion of history making visit to the G7 Summit.

Following is the full text of President Sirisena’s address at the outreach session of G7 Summit:

I thank the Prime Minister Hon. Shinzo Abe for the invitation extended to me to attend the Outreach Sessions of the G7 Summit. It is a privilege and honour bestowed on Sri Lanka.

Japan’s formal announcement that G7 will explore what is needed to sustain the wellbeing of Asia to steer economic growth highlights the relevance of Sri Lanka being here. It endorses Prime Minister Abe’s reasoning for selecting us.

The 2016 Outreach Session’s theme is on stability and economic prosperity in Asia. The terrorism and conflict that lasted for nearly 30 years resulted in the economic downfall in my country.

Stability and prosperity will depend on the opportunities, political and development environment, giving prominence to the huge public demands, good governance and the psychological needs for freedom, and protection from adverse situations.

With a revolutionary change of governance, my Government has succeeded in creating the path for viable development environment and for reconciliation in a multi-faceted society. Now, the people are free and respect human rights. I am aware how G7 countries have appreciated the change we created. This change was endorsed by the people in January and August 2015 in two elections. It exhibited people’s opposition to abuse, corruption, and many such ills, which are detrimental to stability and prosperity. These slowed down capital inflows and investments, which are the mechanisms for stability and prosperity.

To create stability we formed a National Unity Government under my Presidency, combining the country’s two main rival political parties in the Parliament. Our Government introduced the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, through which I transferred to the Parliament most of my Executive powers, except those denied by the Supreme Court. It is democracy at its best.

As a demonstration of my commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, and my firm determination to wipe out corruption, I established a Special Presidential Task Force to Investigate Stolen Government Assets, and appointed a Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption and established a Special Division within the Police titled the Financial Crimes Investigation Division to investigate major financial crimes.

Corruption and discrimination were factors that promoted political violence, withdrew investments and created an unstable economy. Therefore, our actions will instil stability and prosperity.

In addition to disengaging executive powers, I re-established the Independent Commissions such as for the Public Service, Human Rights, Police, Elections, Delimitation and Finance.

To focus on reconciliation, as I mentioned at the UN General Assembly, we move forward to establish mechanisms for Truth Seeking, Justice Seeking, Reparation and actions for non-recurrence, based on extensive consultation with all sections.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to pay my tribute to the people of Japan and the Government of japan for the assistance they provided during the last few decades to enhance the economy of my country and to bring peace to my land at the time of war. I wholeheartedly thank the Government and the people of Japan for it.

We lack finances for extensive development efforts and therefore seek developed nations and multilateral and bilateral investors to invest in Sri Lanka.

Even as I speak to you today, Sri Lanka is recovering from one of the worst floods and landslides we ever experienced. Immediately several countries offered help in our rescue and reconstruction efforts. We thank them and look forward for more development commitments as the destruction is severe.

Therefore, I believe that the G7 Summit of 2016 will look at countries like ours focusing on all these fields.  Your invitation to me would yield real benefits beyond bounds, if serious attention is drawn to our problems.

I very much appreciate the feelings of friendship and understanding demonstrated by the Heads of State of G7 countries and the Heads of State of Outreach countries during these sessions.

Finally, while thanking the organisers for the wonderful hospitality provided to me and my delegation, I wish the outcome of G7 Summit to be a great success. Thank you.

Sirisena-Abe bilateral talks today

President Maithripala Sirisena and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will hold bilateral level discussions today in Nagoya.

During the meeting the two leaders are expected to renew strong bilateral ties as well as reiterate commitment to further strengthen cooperation on a range of matters.

The five Ministers accompanying the President during the Japanese visit will join in the bilateral discussion as well.

Premier Abe was instrumental in inviting Sri Lanka as one of the G7 2016 Summit Outreach Partner countries and President Sirisena was full of praise for Japan’s gesture during his address at the outreach session with G7 leaders yesterday.

“I thank the Prime Minister Hon. Shinzo Abe, for the invitation extended to me to attend the Outreach Sessions of the G7 Summit. It is a privilege and honour bestowed on Sri Lanka,” President Sirisena said at the start of his speech.

Thereafter, before concluding, the President emphasised: “I wish to pay my tribute to the people of Japan and the Government of Japan for the assistance they provided during the last few decades to enhance the economy of my country and to bring peace to my land at the time of war. I wholeheartedly thank the Government and the people of Japan for it.”

Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake will be associated with President Sirisena during the bilateral meeting with Japanese Premier Abe.

Additionally Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Japan Prof. Dammika Ganganath Disanayake, Minister Councillor Commercial D.D. Premaratne, Second Secretary G.N. Hasintha and Foreign Ministry East Asia and Pacific Director General O.L. Ameerajwad will join in too.