President thanks Japan for development assistance :
Sri Lanka’s post-war progress commended
President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with members of the Japan-Sri Lanka
Parliamentary League last morning as a part of his four-day official
visit to Japan.
“We greatly appreciate Japan ’s contribution to many different
sectors in Sri Lanka,” President Rajapaksa told the parliamentarians.
“In addition to meetings between the leaders of countries, I think
people-to-people interactions are also very important,” the President
added.
Vice President of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and
member of the Japanese House of Representatives Masahiko Komura
commended Sri Lanka on the developments made since the end of the
conflict.
“With the improvement of the security situation, the number of
Japanese tourists (to Sri Lanka ) has increased, and I’m very pleased
about that,” Komura said.
Komura also expressed gratitude to President Rajapaksa for his
support towards Japan during the earthquake and tsunami in 2011. He
recalled that, unlike many nations who withdrew their diplomats soon
after the disaster, President Rajapaksa maintained Sri Lanka ’s
diplomatic presence and deliberately chose not to suspend Sri Lankan
flights to and from Japan.
“We, the people of Japan , were very encouraged by your support,”
Komura said.
Noting that he understands the difficulties Sri Lanka is currently
facing, Mr. Komura said, “I believe that with Your Excellency’s
leadership, you will achieve significant results.”
Other members of the Japanese delegation included the
Secretary-General of the Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentarians Friendship
League Madam Yuko Obuchi and several other parliamentarians from both
the ruling and opposition parties.
Sri Lanka was represented by Senior Minister of Urban Affairs A. H.
M. Fowzie,External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Irrigation and
Water Resources Management Ministry Nimal Siripala de Silva, Secretary
to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard
Cabraal and Sri Lanka ’s Ambassador in Japan Admiral (Rtd.) Wasantha
Karannagoda. |