Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Akio Isomata, has stated that Japan has fallen victim to the culture of corruption that has long been prevalent in Sri Lanka.
This revelation was reported by the Daily Mirror.
Ambassador Isomata expressed hope that the newly established government would take decisive steps to eliminate this entrenched culture of corruption from the country.
He noted that several Japanese companies, which had shown interest in investing in Sri Lanka, had negative experiences due to corrupt practices. Emphasizing Japan’s firm stance on ethical business practices, the ambassador stressed that Japanese companies do not engage in bribery or pay extortion.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has underscored that no member of the new government is involved in any form of corruption.
Commenting on this assurance, the Japanese ambassador said it is equally vital to ensure that both politicians and public officials are prevented from engaging in corrupt activities.
When questioned about Japan’s willingness to initiate new projects in Sri Lanka now that the country has completed its debt restructuring, Ambassador Isomata responded that the commencement of such projects would depend on Sri Lanka’s capacity to honor its debt repayments.
