Reconstruction, reconciliation and Human Rights:

Japan welcomes Sri Lanka’s efforts

Japan welcomes the efforts made by Sri Lanka in the areas of reconstruction, reconciliation and Human Rights -- post-conflict -- Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said, when he called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa last morning.

President Rajapaksa is on a four day official visit to Japan which began Monday. Kishida thanked the President for Sri Lanka’s support in the aftermath of the earthquake and the tsunami that struck Japan two years ago. The Japanese Foreign Minister expressed hope that President Rajapaksa’s visit to his country would further strengthen the long-standing friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

President Rajapaksa conveyed his gratitude to Japan and its people for their support when Sri Lanka was struck by the tsunami in 2004.

He spoke of the development in Sri Lanka after the defeat of terrorism and also thanked Japan for its assistance for the construction of the new hospital facility in Jaffna. The Japanese Foreign Minister assured continued support for Sri Lanka’s economic development drive. Earlier in the day, member of Japan’s House of Representatives and chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs Katsuyuki Kawai called on President Rajapaksa.

“Sri Lanka has been making the most remarkable progress in the recent past,” Kawai said. He attributed this progress to the President’s leadership. External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris, Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Monitoring MP for External Affairs Ministry Sajin de Vaas 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 Japan.