Foreign Minister Ali Sabry who is on an Official visit to Japan had wide-ranging discussions on Tuesday (02 July) and Wednesday (03 July) in Tokyo to further invigorate Sri Lanka’s engagement with Japan, Minister Sabry is visiting Japan on an invitation extended by his counterpart Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa.
During the talks at the Foreign Ministry in Japan, Minister Ali Sabry highlighted the friendship of the seven-decade long relationship with Japan and drew attention to the shared values of democracy, human rights, the open economic orientation and people to people engagement which bind the two countries.
He appreciated Japan’s pivotal role as one of the co-chairs of the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) which led to the conclusion of the debt treatment agreement signed on 26 June 2024. Japanese Minister Kamikawa congratulated the Government of Sri Lanka led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe on the achievement and assured support to Sri Lanka’s economic revival by the early recommencement of the projects supported by Yen loans. Minister Sabry also invited Japanese investments in renewable energy, logistics & ports, IT and start-ups and several other sectors, which will pave the way for Japan’s greater involvement in Sri Lanka’s economic journey ahead.
The two Ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest including IORA, maritime cooperation, non-proliferation and disarmament, reforms of international institutions, Women Peace and Security (WPS), Specialized Skilled Workers (SSW) opportunities offered by Japan and its expansion etc. The Foreign Minister shared the progress made on the on-going reconciliation process including on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Through the exchange of official letters between the two Ministers during the visit, Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development scholarships will be further enhanced.
During the visit, Foreign Minister Sabry called on the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan and held a series of meetings including with the Justice Minister, Digital Transformation Minister, Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship League, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan International Trainee & Skilled Worker Cooperation Organization (JITCO) and Mitsui & Co. He also had occasion to call on former Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo.
The Minister laid a wreath at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry was joined for the discussions by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Japan, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
06 July 2024
