Japan-Sri Lanka Relations

March 2010

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

Established in April 1952

Number of Residents:

Number of Japanese nationals residing in Sri Lanka: 778 (August 2005)

Number of Sri Lankan nationals residing in Japan: 6,467 (December 2001)

Trade with Japan (2005):

Exports: 19.8 billion yen (shrimp, tea, fish and textile products)

Imports: 39.2 billion yen (car, general and electrical machinery and equipment)

Direct Investment from Japan:

As of 2003, there were 9 direct investments totaling 710 million yen

Japan's Economic Cooperation:

List of Exchange of Notes

Loans: 721.3 billion yen (cumulative total until fiscal 2006)

Grants: 180.0 billion yen (cumulative total until fiscal 2006)

Technical cooperation: 58.8 billion yen (cumulative total until fiscal 2006)

VIP Visits

From Japan to Sri Lanka

Year	Name
1993. 5	Former Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu (Ambassador on Special Mission to the state funeral of President R. Premadasa)
1993.11	President of Japan Sri Lanka Parliamentarians' League Keizo Obuchi
1996.11	House of Representatives member Yasuo Fukuda (Special Envoy to the state funeral of former President J. R. Jayawardene)
1997. 7	House of Councillors members Wataru Kubo, Teiko Sasano and Hirofumi Hirano
1999. 1	House of Councillors members Masakuni Murakami, Tetsuro Yano, Sanzo Hosaka and Takao Koyama
1999. 8	Chairman of Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence (House of Councillors) Tetsuro Yano
2000. 8	Special envoy of the Prime Minister Housei Norota
2000.10	Special envoy Yasuo Fukuda
2003. 1	Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi
2003. 8	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Tetsuro Yano
2005. 1	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Shuzen Tanigawa
2005. 6	Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aizawa
2006. 4	President of Japan-Sri Lanka Association Yasuo Fukuda

From Sri Lanka to Japan

Year	Name
1994. 2	Foreign Minister A. C. S. Hameed
1996. 5	President Kumaratunga
1998. 3	Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Dharmasiri Senanayake
1998. 3	Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe
1998. 9	Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports S.B.Dissanayake
1998. 9	Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Rajapakse
1999. 2	Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports S.B.Dissanayake
1999. 4	Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Dharmasiri Senanayake
2002.11	Minister of Foreign Affairs Tyronne Fernando
2002.12	Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
2003. 6	Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe
2004. 9	Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar
2006. 5	Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera
2007. 2	Advisor to the President Basil Rajapakse
2007. 3	Speaker of the Parliament W.J.M. Lokubandara
2007. 6	Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2004)

792.0 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)
14.0 million yen (Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects)

• Visit to Japan by Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs, and Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development, of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (July 2010)
• Japan-Sri Lanka Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (Overview) (July 29, 2010)
• Dispatch of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to Sri Lanka and India (June 2010)
• Invitation Program of Young People for Promoting Sri Lanka’s Peace Process (March 2010)
• Statement by Mr. Katsuya Okada, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the Presidential Election in Sri Lanka (January 2010)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Resettlement of Internally-Displaced Persons in Sri Lanka (October 2009)
• Ms. Chinami Nishimura, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Attend the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Foreign Ministers' Meeting (October 2009)
• Program for Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding Recruitment of Ms. Kumiko Katayama, Graduate of the FY2008 Program, to the IOM (International Office for Migration) Sri Lanka Office (July 2009)
• Dispatch of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan to Sri Lanka (June 2009)
• Dispatch of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan to Sri Lanka and India (June 2009)
• Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the End of the Civil War in Sri Lanka (May 2009)
• Assistance in Kind for the Afflicted People in Sri Lanka (May 2009)
• Participation of H.E. Mr. Shintaro Ito, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in the Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the Situation in the Middle East and Meeting of Countries of Concern Regarding Sri Lanka (May 2009)
• Emergency Grant Aid to Sri Lanka for Internally Displaced Persons (May 2009)
• Telephone Conversation between Foreign Ministers of Japan and the United Kingdom regarding the situation in Sri Lanka (April 2009)
• Dispatch of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan to Sri Lanka (April 2009)
• Statement by G8 Foreign Ministers on Sri Lanka (April 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Humanitarian Situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in Sri Lanka (April 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Announcement of the Government of Sri Lanka on 48 hours restriction of the Armed Forces' operations (April 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Attack on the Sri Lankan National Cricket Team in Pakistan (March 2009)
• Invitation Program of Young People for Promoting Sri Lanka's Peace Process (February 2009)
• Statement by the Tokyo Co-Chairs (February 2009)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Humanitarian Situation in Sri Lanka (January 2009)
• Dispatch of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan to Sri Lanka (January 2009)
• Visit to Japan by Hon. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (September 2008)
• Emergency Assistance to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the Flood Disaster (June 2008)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Development toward a Solution of the Conflict in Sri Lanka (January 2008)
• Statement by Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on The Government of Sri Lanka's withdrawal from the Ceasefire Agreement (January 2008)
• Emergency Aid to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for the Flood Disaster (December 2007)
• Exchange of Notes on Grant Aid (Food Aid) to 8 Countries Including Timor-Leste through WFP (World Food Programme) (December 2007)
• Mr. Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pays Courtesy Call on Sri Lankan President H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa (December 2007)
• Visit to Japan of His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa (November 2007)
  • The Japan-Sri Lanka Summit Meeting (December 10, 2007)
• Visit to Japan by Hon. Rohitha Bogollagama, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (June 2007)
  • Japan-Sri Lanka Foreign Ministerial Meeting and Working Lunch (June 28, 2007)
• Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to Visit Sri Lanka (June 2007)
• Exchange of Notes concerning Grant Aid to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for Project for Construction of New Mannar Bridge and Improvement of Causeway (May 2007)
• Visit to Japan by Hon. Anura Bandaranaike, Minister of National Heritage of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (May 2007)
• Courtesy Call on Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, by Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, Senior Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka (February 2007)
• Emergency Assistance for the Landslide Disaster in Sri Lanka (January 2007)
• Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to Attend Extraordinary Meeting of Co-chairs of the Tokyo Donors Conference (November 2006)
• Assistance in Kind for the Afflicted People in Sri Lanka (October 2006)
• Visit of Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to Sri Lanka (October 2006)
• Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan on Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Sri Lanka, to Attend the Meeting of the Four Co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka (September 2006)
• Assistance for "Support for Sustainable Livelihood Recovery among the Conflict Affected Population in the North-East Regions of Sri Lanka through Improved Agricultural Productivity and Community-based Entrepreneurship" Project (July 2006)
• Dr. Kiyohiko Toyama, Vice-Minister (Parliamentary) for Foreign Affairs, to Visit Laos and Sri Lanka (June 2006)
• Meeting of the Four Co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka to be Held in Tokyo (May 2006)
• Visit to Japan by Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka (May 2006)
• Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to Attend Extraordinary Meeting of the Co-chairs of Tokyo Donors Conference (April 2006)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on Direct Talks on Implementation of Cease-fire Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) (January 2006)
• Statement of the Press Secretary of the Government of Japan, on the Peace Process in Sri Lanka (December 2005)
• Statement by the Press Secretary regarding the Sri Lankan Presidential Election (November 2005)
• Assistance for "Support to the Livelihood Rehabilitation for Conflict Affected People Engaged in Agriculture in North and East Sri-Lanka" Project (October 2005)
• Signing of the Agreement on Technical Cooperation between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (October 2005)
• Statement by Mr. MACHIMURA Nobutaka, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the assassination of Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (August 2005)
• Reconstruction Assistance to Sri Lanka for the Damage Caused by the Tsunami (Provision of Gulley suckers) (February 2005)
• Food Aid through the World Food Programme (WFP) (February 2005)
• Improving Human Security by Rebuilding Communities in North East Sri Lanka (February 2005)
• Sri Lanka Donor Co-Chair Meeting - Press Statement - (January 2005)
• Dispatch of the Japan Disaster Relief Expert Team in Response to the Tsunami Disaster in Sri Lanka and Maldives (January 2005)
• Japan-Sri Lanka Foreign Ministers' Meeting (Overview) (January 2005)
• Dispatch of a Second Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team in Response to the Tsunami Disaster in Sri Lanka (January 2005)
• Emergency Aid to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for Tsunami Disaster (December 2004)
• Dispatch of the Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team in Response to the Tsunami Disaster in Sri Lanka (December 2004)
• Emergency Aid to Sri Lanka for Torrential Rain Disaster (December 2004)
• Sri Lanka Donor Co-Chair Meeting - Joint Press Statement - (June 2004)
• Statement by Press Secretary regarding the Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election (April 2004)
• Statement by the Election Observation Mission of the Government of Japan to Sri Lanka (April 2004)
• Dispatch of Election Observers for the General Election in Sri Lanka (March 2004)
• Sri Lanka Donor Co-Chair Meeting - Joint Press Statement - (February 2004)
• Meeting between Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, and Deputy Secretary of State of the United States Richard Armitage on the Peace Process in Sri Lanka (February 2004)
• Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the Current Situation in Sri Lanka (December 2003)
• Statement by the Press Secretary regarding the current situation in Sri Lanka (November 2003)
• Press Release of the first meeting to follow up the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka (September 2003)
• Statement of Mr. Tetsuro Yano, Senior Vice-Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the occasion of visit to Jaffna (August 2003)
• Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka (June 2003)
• Emergency Aid for Flood Disaster in Sri Lanka (May 2003)
• Statement of the Government of Japan on the Peace Process in Sri Lanka (May 2003)
• The 12th Japan-EU Summit - Joint Press Statement - (May 2003)
• Sri Lanka Peace Talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to be held in Japan (March 2003)
• Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, to Visit India and Sri Lanka (January 2003)
• Grassroots Grant Aid to Sri Lanka (January 2003)
• Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi's Visit to Sri Lanka and India (January 2003)
• Emergency Grant Aid to Sri Lanka for Internally Displaced Persons (December 2002)
• Visit to Japan by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (November 2002)
• Appointment of a Representative of the Government of Japan for Sri Lanka (October 2002)
• Statement by Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, regarding the commencement of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) (August 2002)
• Statement by Mr. Norio Hattori, Press Secretary Regarding the Formal Ceasefire Agreement in Sri Lanka (February 2002)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the ceasefire in Sri Lanka (December 2001)
• Minister of Foreign Affairs Lakshman Kadirgamar of Sri Lanka's Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and Meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Yohei Kono (Summary and Evaluation) (October 2000)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Situation in Sri Lanka (May 2000)
• Statement by the Press Secretary on the Terrorist Bombing in Colombo (December 1999)

Press Secretary's Press Conference on Sri Lanka

• Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka Web Site
• Embassy of Sri Lanka in Japan Web Site