Sri Lanka and Japan discuss further strengthening of economic ties

Tuesday, 30 July 2013 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Japan’s Minister of Internal Affairs and Communication Yoshitaka Shindo called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the President’s House yesterday. The discussion focused on existing collaborations between the two countries while also developing new ways of further strengthening economic ties, including in the communications sector. Shindo also thanked Sri Lanka for its support and assistance in the aftermath of the tsunami in 2011, noting how much the people of Japan appreciated it. In March of this year, during a visit to Japan, President Rajapaksa held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe.

The Japanese Government committed to a total of Rs. 57.8 billion in development aid to Sri Lanka. Since then, this is the second high-level visit of a Japanese Government official. In May of this year, Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Sri Lanka and met President Rajapaksa. Minister of Mass Media and Information Keheliya Rambukwella, Monitoring Member of Parliament of the Ministry of External Affairs Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information Charitha Herath, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs Kshenuka Seneviratne and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Japan Admiral (Rtd.) Wasantha Karannagoda also joined the discussion.