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Q: Under the situation in which Japan is losing the position of the largest donor country to Sri Lanka, being replaced by China, which is considered the most important partner for the development of the country, what is the purpose of Prime Minister Abe’s visit this time and what are your views on the Japan-Sri Lanka relationship?

A: As the Prime Minister of Japan, I feel much honored to be able to visit Sri Lanka, an important friendly nation, for the first time in a quarter of a century.

“Hatred ceases not by hatred, but by love” On September 6, 63 years ago, at the San Francisco Peace Conference, it was Sri Lanka who encouraged Japan’s return to the international community by saying this phrase, while Japan at that time was trying to take a step forward to its reconstruction from its post-war devastation. Over 60 years since then, Japan as a peace-loving nation has contributed to world peace. This time, I would like to visit Sri Lanka with feelings of gratitude towards them.

The first Japanese Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka in 1957 was my grandfather Nobusuke Kishi. Having heard that the tree my grandfather planted is still being carefully looked after in Peradeniya Botanical Garden in the ancient city of Kandy, I have since been dreaming of visiting Sri Lanka.

In March 2013, I invited H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, to Japan and we exchanged views on strengthening the bilateral partnership beyond the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. We, as friends of Sri Lanka, are delighted to contribute to its nation building together with the people of Sri Lanka, and we intend to continue to extend them high quality cooperation based on trust.

Sri Lanka, which is located at a key point on the sea lanes of communication in the Indian Ocean, attracts growing interest due to its potential as an emerging country that has achieved the economic growth of over 7% in recent years. I am confident that Japan and Sri Lanka, as maritime nations in Asia, have a relationship that enables them to further deepen and expand their cooperative ties as well as to grow together.

Being attracted by the beautiful nature and rich historical heritages, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Sri Lanka is rapidly increasing. I would like to take this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the historical amicable relationship with Sri Lanka, activate the private economic relationship more than ever, and elevate the bilateral relationship based on mutual understanding and trust to a higher level.

Q: Japan has been abstaining from voting on the the resolution concerning Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council. What is your opinion on Sri Lanka as to how they should respond to the views regarding the research conducted by the current United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the issues recognized as war crimes and human rights violations by Sri Lanka, as well as the requirement from the international community that Sri Lanka must investigate what happened upon the end of civil war in 2009?

A: I understand that the Government of Sri Lanka is making constructive efforts for the development of national reconciliation, such as expanding the mandate of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on Missing Persons.

Japan hopes such efforts made by Sri Lanka will lead to dispel concerns indicated in the resolution by the UN Human Rights Council.

For a long time, Japan has consistently strived for the development of peace in Sri Lanka and actively involved in and contributed to the peace process, with Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan, playing a major role. Japan has also supported peace building in Sri Lanka after the end of the civil conflict and maintained its involvement in order to ensure the progress of national reconciliation.

With the end of the 30-year long civil conflict, I sincerely hope that in Sri Lanka, which showed Japan the spirit of tolerance 63 years ago, their people will once again demonstrate such spirit and realize a true national reconciliation. I would like to continue to provide necessary assistance to Sri Lanka, including the promotion of its confidence building with the international community.