Japan-Lanka talks on oil exploration

The Prime Minister of Japan has suggested ministerial level consultations between Sri Lanka and Japan on oil and gas exploration by Japan in Sri Lanka and on the settlement of loans from Japan to Sri Lanka, states a Presidential Media release.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda made this suggestion when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the World Conference of Food Security convened by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Rome, on Tuesday.

He proposed the participation of Japan in oil and gas exploration in Sri Lanka, where certain blocks have already been allocated to some countries and also broached the matter of the settlement of loans provided by Japan to Sri Lanka.

Discussions between Prime Minister Fukuda and President Rajapaksa covered political and economic issues in Sri Lanka. The Japanese leader expressed satisfaction at the successful conduct of the elections to the Eastern Provincial Council, and indicated that assistance for development of the Eastern Province would be given high priority by the Japanese Government.

The two leaders also discussed the Human Rights situation in Sri Lanka when President Rajapaksa explained the action taken by the Government to address Human Rights issues.

The Sri Lanka President thanked Japan for the generous assistance` extended over the years.