Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
Wednesday, 18 February 2026 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
A high-level Japanese delegation paid a courtesy call on President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (17) morning at the Presidential Secretariat. Discussions centred on strengthening economic cooperation and advancing plans for a Sri Lanka–Japan export-industrial corridor.
The meeting followed the President’s official visit to Japan last September, during which a Memorandum of Cooperation on the proposed export-industrial corridor between Sri Lanka and Japan was signed.
The visit by the delegation was intended to convey appreciation for the invitation extended to them and for facilitating arrangements connected to that initiative.
The proposed corridor is expected to attract Japanese manufacturing investments oriented mainly towards export markets, particularly India. The discussions also highlighted a renewed interest by the Japanese Government and business community in Sri Lanka after nearly a decade, with optimism that the corridor would generate significant economic benefits in exports and industrial trade and enhance Sri Lanka’s role as a regional manufacturing and export hub while deepening bilateral economic ties.
The delegation included Japan’s Vice Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, the Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka and Japan–Sri Lanka Business Co-operation Committee Chairman Fumihiko Kobayashi, along with senior representatives from the Government and industry.
The meeting was also attended by Senior Economic Adviser to the President Duminda Hulangamuwa, Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development Ministry Secretary K.A. Vimalenthirarajah, Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe and several others.
Representing Japan were Japan–Sri Lanka Business Co-operation Committee Chairman Fumihiko Kobayashi, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata, Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry Vice Minister – International Affairs Takehiko Matsuo, Foreign Affairs Ministry Director – Southwest Asia Division, Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department Masakatsu Murotani, Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry Director – Southwest Asia Office, Trade Policy Bureau Toshiyuki Shimano, METI – South Asia Regional Representative Toyokazu Nagamune, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Executive Vice President Akiko Okumura, ITOCHU Corporation Asia & Oceania Bloc CEO and ITOCHU Singapore Pte Ltd., President and CEO Tadashi Katori, Tokyo Kyodo Holdings Co., Ltd., Assistant Manager Eranga Dilshan, and Mitsui & Co., Ltd., General Manager – Marine Solution Business Division Kensuke Kubota, Mitsubishi Corporation Deputy General Manager – Global Planning and Coordination Department Shusaku Izumi, Japan–Sri Lanka Business Co-operation Committee Secretary General Masazumi Nishizawa, Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry Deputy Director – Southwest Asia Office, Trade Policy Bureau Hiromi Sumi, JETRO Colombo Resident Representative Hiroki Oi, and JICA Sri Lanka Chief Representative Kenji Kuronuma.
