Japan assures continued aid to Sri Lanka

Shuichi Tokuda, Director of the Country Assi-stant Planning Division, Inter-national Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Japan has assured continuous Japanese development aid to Sri Lanka.

He gave this assurance to Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa when they met at the ministry office in Colombo to discuss the proposed Japanese-funded projects to be launched in Sri Lanka.

Japan has been a leading sponsor of financial and technological support to Sri Lanka and Tokyo has been able to make a major contribution more flexibly to raise the living standards of Sri Lankans since 1954.

Rajapaksa highly appreciated Japan’s assistance to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economy and meet development goals via developing infrastructure facilities, human resources and rural communities, among other projects.

He noted that Japan was among the nations that helped Sri Lanka to rise within a short period from the ruins after three decades of war.

He briefed the Japanese representatives on the progress of the Divi Neguma national program which is aimed at making Sri Lanka a land free of poverty.

The minister outlined the development goals achieved so far including carpeting of roads, provision of electricity, facilitating drinking water supply, and improving health, educational and communication facilities in the North and East and other areas of the island. He also drew attention to the proper management of water resources and to Japanese assistance given for rearing sea leeches.

Rajapaksa further said that Japanese businessmen were already investing in the tuna fish industry.

Among the other areas the minister referred to were the development of the tourism industry and international promotional programs launched in that connection. Facilities for this purpose were being constantly improved, he said.   Rajapaksa added that this has led to the influx of tourists in greater numbers. He also cited Sri Lanka’s ornamental fish industry and said there is a great demand for such fish in European countries.

Unutilised lands are being taken over to further develop this industry, according to the minister.

In response, Director Shuichi Tokuda said that Japan will continue to assist Sri Lanka in securing lasting peace and economic progress.  Japan’s Amb-assador in Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo, Chief of Economic Cooperation Section and Japanese Embassy, Suguru Minoya were among the high level officials who participated in the discussion.