Western nations underestimate SL’s development – Japanese Deputy
PM
Western nations are underestimating the development in Sri Lanka
since the end of the conflict, Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso,
said when he met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa for discussions
yesterday. President Rajapaksa is currently on a four day official visit
to Japan which began Monday.
Aso who was a former Prime Minister of Japan is currently holding the
position of the Finance Minister as well.
He said, “Sri Lanka’s security situation is getting better. The
economy is on the right track. Investors and tourists are coming to the
country”.
President Rajapaksa while thanking Japan for its assistance to Sri
Lanka’s development remarked that leaders and people of the world should
visit Sri Lanka to see for themselves the progress the country had
achieved in all aspects in recent times.
Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera also called on President
Rajapaksa yesterday.
During the discussion he recalled that he served as a JICA volunteer
in Sri Lanka some years before. “Now the conflict is over. Sri Lanka had
made great strides under President Rajapaksa’s able leadership,” he
noted.
Ambassador Yasushi Akashi also met with the President at a private
lunch. During the visit President Rajapaksa is expected to hold
discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and have an audience
with the Japanese Emperor and Empress who will also be hosting a lunch
for the President and the First Lady at the Imperial palace.
President Rajapaksa is scheduled to host a breakfast meeting for
leaders of Japan’s corporate and industry sectors as well as attend the
inaugural ceremony of the Sri Lanka Business Forum. In addition to
several bilateral meetings with Japanese ministers and government
officials the President is also scheduled to attend a meeting of the
Japan Sri Lanka Parliamentary League.
Urban Affairs Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, External Affairs
Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Irrigation and Water Resources Management
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Monitoring MP for External Affairs
Minister Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith
Weeratunga and Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal are among the
Sri Lankan officials, along with a business delegation, accompanying the
President on his second official visit to the country. |