Japan pledges further support to SL

Tuesday, 24 August 2021 03:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama, while congratulating Minister Prof. G.L Peiris for his new appointment, reiterated Japan’s continued support and cooperation to Sri Lanka when he called on the new Foreign Minister at the Foreign Ministry on 20 August.

Ambassador Sugiyama mentioned that Sri Lanka and Japan maintain excellent partnerships at all levels and emphasised that Japan is committed towards completing all ongoing development projects on time and accelerating the implementation of impending projects despite challenges posed by the pandemic.

Foreign Minister Peiris thanked the Government and the people of Japan for extending steadfast support to Sri Lanka in these difficult times.

Japan is a valuable partner of Sri Lanka in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 1.4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines recently donated to Sri Lanka by Japan were immensely useful in conducting an uninterrupted vaccination program within the Western Province in Sri Lanka.

Recalling Yasushi Akashi’s valuable contribution during the peace negotiations as a special envoy of the Government of Japan, Prof. Peiris thanked Japan for understanding the ground realities in the country and its mediatory role in the international fora to find permanent solutions for the reconciliation and human rights issue in Sri Lanka.

While agreeing to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year in a fitting manner, Foreign Minister Peiris and Ambassador Sugiyama both agreed to work tirelessly to enhance trade, investment, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries to a further height.

Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage was also associated with the meeting.