President congratulates Japanese PM on election victory
Friday, 26 July 2013 00:00
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa has congratulated the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe on the landslide victory in the recent general election, gaining control of both chambers of the Diet.
“Your victory would no doubt indicate the confidence reposed in you by the people of Japan and would pave the way for further political stability and economic resurgence,” President Rajapaksa wrote. “Sri Lanka and Japan have enjoyed warm and friendly ties from historic times and I am confident that the bonds of friendship and close cooperation that exist between our two countries will further strengthen under your stewardship.”
President Rajapaksa engaged in an official working visit to Japan in March during which he held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Abe. As a result of those talks, the Government of Japan agreed to provide development assistance totalling 43.8 billion Yen to Sri Lanka to be used in areas including infrastructure development and disaster prevention.
In May of this year, Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso visited Sri Lanka and met President Rajapaksa.
At that meeting, the Japanese Government offered technical assistance to Sri Lanka‘s energy sector to help facilitate more efficient energy production.
