Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan, called on Hon. Seiji Kihara, Parliamentary Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan on 19th February 2014.
Hon. Vice Minister Kihara and the Ambassador discussed myriad issues of mutual relevance and importance to both the countries including that of a number of high-level visits between the two countries during the last couple of years.
The two dignitaries underscored the significance of the visits of His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka to Japan, the former and current visits of the Deputy Prime Ministers of Japan to Sri Lanka, and the visit of HIH Princess Tsuguko of Takamado to Sri Lanka as well as of other Cabinet Ministerial visits taken place between the two countries.Both the Vice Minister and the Ambassador acknowledged that these visits and ensuing discussions with the relevant counterparts have further strengthened and deepened the relations between the two countries, particularly during the last couple of years.
In the economic sphere, the Ambassador added that over USD 550 million worth of investments, both foreign direct investments and foreign institutional investments, have been committed by the corporates and industries of Japan during past few years, reflecting the potential of the economy of Sri Lanka. He further added that the tourism from Japan to Sri Lanka has doubled during the last three years. The Vice Minister placed on record his appreciation to the Embassy for the assistance extended during the Great East Japan Earthquake.
The two dignitaries discussed, in detail, some of the key infrastructure projects including that of the maritime cooperation between the two countries and the intrinsic utility of it to both the countries.Mr. Makoto Matsuda, Director and Mr. Takeshi Ozaki, Assistant Director of Southwest Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present with the Vice Minister and Mr. A.S.U. Mendis, Deputy Chief of Mission was associated with Ambassador Admiral Karannagoda.
