Media Release
President Ranil Wickremesinghe concludes successful visit to Japan
President Ranil Wickremesinghe concluded a three-day visit to Japan, where he addressed the 28th Nikkei Future of Asia Conference held in Tokyo. The prestigious Forum was organized by Nikkei Inc, with the participation of a number of high-level dignitaries, including President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Tran Luu Quang, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Don Pramudwinai and the former Prime Minister of Malaysia Mahathir Mohammed.
During the visit, President Wickremesinghe held fruitful bilateral discussions with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Minister of Finance Suzuki Shunichi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa and Minister for Digital Transformation Taro Kono during which further consolidation of bilateral political as well as economic cooperation between the two countries were discussed at length. The President appreciated the unwavering support the Government of Japan had extended to Sri Lanka in the recent debt restructuring process. President Wickremesinghe briefed the Japanese dignitaries on the steady progress made by Sri Lanka towards economic recovery and requested the continued support and goodwill of Japan in overcoming the current challenges of the country.
On the sidelines of the main program, the President engaged in bilateral discussions with the visiting Deputy Prime Ministers of Vietnam and Singapore as well as with three former Prime Ministers of Japan Yasuo Fukuda, Taro Aso and Yoshihide Suga.
The President also met the officials of the Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentarian Friendship League, which is engaged in strengthening relations between the two countries, while promoting mutually beneficial economic ties.
A special Business Forum was organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tokyo, in collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Japan-Sri Lanka Business Cooperation Council (JSLBCC) during the visit, which enabled President Wickremesinghe to engage with the Business Community in Japan. Further discussions were held by the President with the Sri Lanka Business Council in Japan, to identify ways of enhancing trade and investment between Sri Lanka and Japan.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe had several media interactions while in Tokyo, which included media interviews with Nikkei and the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, NHK.
The President also made this visit an opportunity to meet Madam Akie Abe, the spouse of late Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, to express the profound gratitude of the people of Sri Lanka, for the friendship and cooperation extended by the former Prime Minister to Sri Lanka.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
29 May 2023