Press Releases
Foreign Minister Hayashi’s Courtesy Call on President Wickremesinghe of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
September 27, 2022
On September 27, commencing at around 9:00 a.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, paid a courtesy call on Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, who is visiting Japan to attend the state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi expressed his gratitude for the attendance of President Wickremesinghe at the state funeral of former Prime Minister Abe. President Wickremesinghe stated that former Prime Minister Abe was a great friend of Sri Lanka and that he remembers meeting with former Prime Minister Abe when he visited Japan as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and expressed his heartfelt condolences for the sudden demise of former Prime Minister Abe, which he stated was truly regrettable.
- Minister Hayashi stated that Japan’s intention to continue to cooperate with Sri Lanka for its development in realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” remains unchanged. Minister Hayashi also mentioned that based on the current humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka, which has been a traditionally friendly country of Japan, the Japanese government recently decided to provide and is already implementing additional assistance package worth $3.5 million, following the humanitarian assistance worth $3 million in May. Minister Hayashi stated that Japan would firmly strive to extend support for Sri Lanka towards settling the humanitarian crisis. President Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude for Japan’s support thus far.
- Minister Hayashi pointed out the importance of implementing development finance in a transparent and comparable manner, consistent with the international rules and standards. With regard to Sri Lanka’s debt issue, Minister Hayashi and President Wickremesinghe concurred that it is important that debt restructuring to be carried out with the participation of all the creditor countries in a transparent and comparable manner.
- Both sides exchanged views regarding international affairs, including the situation in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific region, and shared the view that it is important to swiftly resolve conflicts. Furthermore, they affirmed that they would continue to closely cooperate in dealing with North Korea, including the nuclear and missile issues, such as the ballistic missile launch on September 25 as well as the abductions issue. Both sides also discussed international issues including disarmament and non-proliferation and the UN Security Council reform, and confirmed that they would continue working together in the international arena.