Japan praises Sri Lanka’s commitment to Indian Ocean peace and maritime security

Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Takei Shunsuke yesterday called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to discuss cooperation between the two countries and areas of possible future cooperation.

Shunsuke, who has arrived in Colombo to participate at the 75th Independence Day celebrations, offered warm greetings to Sri Lanka on this important milestone. The Prime Minister thanked the State Minister for the Japanese long-standing assistance to Sri Lanka. Japan has provided $ 3 million humanitarian assistance last year to procure essential medicines and food through UNICEF and the World Food Program.

Premier Gunawardena briefed the Japanese Minister on the efforts made to face the economic crisis and they examined how Japan could further assist in this process. The Prime Minister thanked Japan for taking a leading role to engage with major lenders to Sri Lanka in order to find an acceptable loan restructuring formula.

He said that Sri Lanka remains open to explore opportunities to further deepening and widening of bilateral relations, not only by greater trade and investment cooperation, but also in the areas of infrastructure, transport, electronics, fishing, agriculture and renewable energy. He also stressed the need for promotion of cultural exchanges to the mutual benefit of the two peoples.

Shunsuke praised Sri Lanka’s commitment to the Indian Ocean region’s peace and maritime security. He said Japan, as a victim of nuclear attacks, condemned and provocative actions by any nation that could result in a nuclear disaster. Prime Minister Gunawardena said Sri Lanka stands for peaceful solution to any conflict between the nations and is vehemently opposed to the use of nuclear weapons.