Japan-Sri Lanka Relations
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kiuchi’s Visit to Sri Lanka
March 7, 2015
- State Minister for Foreign Affairs Minoru Kiuchi visited Sri Lanka (Colombo) on March 6 and 7, and made courtesy calls on President H.E. Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Hon. Mr. Ranil Wickremeshinghe and Foreign Minister Hon. Mr. Mangala Samaraweera, and visited the Jayawardene Center.
- This was the first bilateral visit at the political level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since the establishment of the new administration in Sri Lanka in January this year. State Minister Kiuchi explained that Japan would like to further strengthen the relationship with Sri Lanka, Japan's longstanding friend, and actively cooperate towards its new nation-building.
- Additionally, State Minister Kiuchi conveyed Japan's intention to provide new yen loans amounting to approximately 70 billion yen for the Bandaranaike International Airport Development Project and the National Electricity Transmission and Distribution Network Development and Efficiency Improvement Project, and expressed that Japan would enhance its assistance that would benefit the entire people of Sri Lanka.
- With regard to national reconciliation in Sri Lanka, State Minister Kiuchi commended that the new government was promoting dialogue with the international community while advancing domestic measures, and expressed Japan's intention to support new government's positive efforts towards achieving national reconciliation.
- In response, the Sri Lankan side expressed their gratitude for the Japanese assistance over many years and its strong intention to further develop the friendly relationship between the two countries. The Sri Lankan side also expressed their intention to steadily promote democracy and good governance and to advance domestic measures to achieve lasting peace with the cooperation of the international community including Japan.