Ambassador of Sri Lanka calls on Governor of Tokyo

Tuesday, 5 August 2014 01:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda called on the Governor of Tokyo Yoichi Masuzoe, at the Office of the Governor recently. Governor Masuzoe placed on record the congenial and cordial relations the two countries are enjoying and also highlighted the number of high-level visits which are taking place between the two countries. He added that these visits including that of the visits of the President of Sri Lanka and two Deputy Prime Ministers of Japan during the last couple of years have further deepened and strengthened the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Governor also alluded to the historic address delivered by the then Minister of Finance, President J.R. Jayawardene, at the San Francisco Peace Conference in 1951. A copy of a photograph of the said address was handed over to the Governor by the Ambassador. Ambassador Karan-nagoda, in his opening remarks, congratulated the Governor for winning the bid to host the Olympics in Tokyo in year 2020. The Ambassador also added that even the formal diplomatic relations were established in 1952 between the two countries, religious bilateral relations of exchange of Buddhist monks between the two countries were taking place as far back as in the 19th century, thus epitomising the depth of the bilateral relations. Both the dignitaries discussed the rapid economic advancement of Sri Lanka, since the end of the conflict in 2009, as well as the increasing touristic potentiality of the country. The tourism from Japan to Sri Lanka has increased twofold since 2011 and is poised to reach close to 100,000 by 2016.

Ambassador Karan-nagoda further briefed of the investments from Japan to Sri Lanka, particularly, during the last three years, which were over $ 450 million. Ambassador expounded to the Governor that during most of the high level visits, a myriad and significant issues were discussed including that of maritime cooperation, monorail project in the city of Colombo, Smart City concept, Coast Guard and measures to commence negotiations for a trade arrangement/agreement to augment bilateral trade and investments, among others, which made the respective visits highly fruitful and focused. Ambassador expressed gratitude, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, for the assistance and cooperation extended by the Government of Japan to Sri Lanka for the last several decades. Since the city of Tokyo has 11 ‘Sister Cities’ in a number of countries, Ambassador Admiral Karannagoda broached Governor Masuzoe to favourably consider Colombo as yet another ‘Sister City’ of Tokyo, as there are no sister cities in the region of South Asia. The Governor, whilst being receptive of this proposition, expressed his interest to visit Sri Lanka in the foreseeable future, since he had last visited many years ago. The Governor was accompanied by his Deputies, Special Assistants and other Directors of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Amba-ssador Admiral Karannagoda was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Mission.