Japanese MPs tell Prime Minister:

Lanka major tourist draw

The Japanese government affirms that out of all the developing nations in the world Sri Lanka has become one of the major hot spots in the global economy to attract foreign direct investment. A delegation of Japanese Parliamentarians expressed these views with Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at an official meeting held between the two parties at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Visumpaya last morning.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne with Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association delegation and Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi

Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association President Hirofumi Hirano, Association Director Generals Toshiro Ishii and Hitoshi Hasegawa met Prime Minister Jayaratne in a bid to enhance bilateral relations.

The Japanese delegation pointed out that in order to increase the flow of Foreign Direct Investment to the country the prevailing infrastructure facilities should be further developed and expanded. They also affirmed that the Government of Japan is committed to support Sri Lanka in this regard. It is the need of the hour to develop the infrastructure facilities required to revamp earnings from the tourism sector since Sri Lanka is famous on the world stage as an exquisite tourist destination.

the delegation of Japanese MPs stressed that with the dawn of peace after a bitter period of civil strife, the image of Sri Lanka as a major tourist hot spot has been further strengthened.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne in reply said that Korea and Iran has already commenced large scale capital investments in the country.

He greatly appreciated the assistance provided by the Japanese Government to Sri Lanka during the period of the civil war and expressed the need to obtain further mutual aid from Japan.

The rate of growth of Gross Domestic Product in Sri Lanka during the second quarter of the year is 8.5 percent.

The peaceful environment in the country has greatly catalysed economic growth in this regard and the Prime Minister expressed the need to gain international assistance to sustain the rate of growth so achieved.

Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi was also present during the discussion.