Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized that the stability and development of Sri Lanka, situated at the heart of the Indian Ocean, is of vital importance. He expressed hope to further strengthen and expand the partnership between Japan and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Latest News
The remarks were made during a joint press conference held yesterday (29) following the official welcoming ceremony for Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is currently on an official visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese Government. The ceremony took place at the Japanese Prime Minister’s Office in the morning.
Addressing the media, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake noted that the long-standing friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan is built on mutual trust, respect, and strong personal ties. He highlighted that the discussions with Prime Minister Ishiba marked a significant milestone in bilateral relations and reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to working closely with Japan on the path toward stability and development, ensuring that both nations reap the full benefits of their agreements.
The President also conveyed his gratitude to the Japanese Government for resuming 11 development projects in Sri Lanka that were halted during the recent economic crisis, and for contributing to the success of the IMF debt restructuring program.
Following the bilateral discussions, a joint statement was released to the media by both leaders.
During the welcoming ceremony, President Dissanayake was received with full honours by Prime Minister Ishiba. The President was accorded a guard of honour by the Japan Self-Defense Forces and observed the ceremonial parade. The introduction of both countries’ delegations was followed by the commencement of official talks.
According to the Presidential Media Division, the discussions focused on strengthening the long-standing friendship between the two nations while expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, economic development, development assistance, and regional security.
As part of the proceedings, both sides signed an exchange of letters relating to Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), including the Project for the Enhancement of Productivity in the Dairy Sector and the Official Security Assistance (OSA) program.
Concluding the day’s events, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his delegation attended a banquet hosted in their honour by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
