Japan’s assistance to develop Sri Lanka’s maritime security

Wednesday, 22 August 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Attention has been drawn to further strengthening maritime security cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka.

This was disclosed during the meeting between Japanese Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera, who is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, and President Maithripala Sirisena held at the Presidential Secretariat, yesterday.

This is the first time that a Japanese Defence Minister is visiting the country, and the Minister was warmly welcomed by the President.

During the meeting it was also reviewed the progress of the implementation of the agreements entered during President Sirisena’a recent visit to Japan and further discussed the ways to develop defence cooperation between the two countries while expanding the relationship between Japan and Sri Lanka.

Special attention will be given towards strengthening defence cooperation encompassing maritime security.

As a result of the discussions held between President Maithripala Sirisena and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Government took steps to provide two patrol boats for the Sri Lankan Costal Guards costing Rs. 1.8 billion. The President expressed his thanks to the Minister of Defence.

President Sirisena said he was happy that the Japanese Minister of Defence would be travelling to Hambantota and Trincomalee Ports during his two-day visit and added that cooperation between the two countries would be strengthened through the programs conducted regarding coastal security.