PM Wickremesinghe adresses the Japanese Parliament
Today is day three of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to Japan.
Marking an important occassion on his tour of Japan, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed Japanese Parliamentarians today.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe delivered a memorial speech at the Diet House of Representatives on Tuesday morning.
The special event was organised by the Japan – Sri Lanka Parliamentary League.
Prime Minister Wickremesinghe became the third world leader, after US President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to have addressed the Diet House of Representatives.
Speaking prior to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe’s speech, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe commended the immense support given to Japan by Former Sri Lankan President J.R. Jayewardene at the San Fransisco Convention.
Thereafter, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe attended a luncheon meeting hosted by the Japan – Sri Lanka Parliamentary League.
The visiting Premier was thereafter accorded a guard of honour at the Office of the Prime Minister.
Subsequently, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe attended a summit meeting at the Prime Minister’s office with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The meeting was also attended by a delegation including Ministers Ravi Karunanayake, Mangala Samaraweera and Susil Premajayantha.
The joint statement, which was released following this meeting, stated that Japan will assist Sri Lanka in the promotion of investment and trade, coorperation on the National Development Plan in Sri Lanka and National Reconciliation and Peace-building.
Both leaders welcomed the progress made thus far in the policy dialogue between the two countries, including the senior official level dialogue between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs as well as the Sri Lanka Japan dialogue on Maritime Security and Oceanic Issues.
The statement further reads that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his gratitute for Sri lanka’s continued support for Japan’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
Prime Minister Abe also highlighted the visit of Motoo Noguchi in October this year as part of the contribution of Japan to Sri Lanka’s reconciliation process.
The statement also reads that both leaders agreed to make maximum use of the Public Private Joint Forum and Joint Business Co-operation Committee and spoke on the Japanese Investment Promotion Advisor attached to the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka for the promotion of trade and investment.
Both leaders had reaffirmed that the two countries will continue to cooperate for the sustainable economic growth in Sri lanka under the Partnership for Quality Infrastructure.
The joint statement goes on to note that Prime Minister Abe had stated that Japan will provide training to approximately 1800 Sri Lankan local public officials by 2016.
The Japanese Premier also stated that Japan will continue to provide cooperation in the field of disaster risk reduction including a survey, with a view to providing a meteorological radar system.
Following the meeting, an exchange of notes for the 45 billion yen Bandaranaike International Airport Development Project phase 2 was signed by the ambassadors of both nations.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe also held several bilateral meetings earlier in the day.
The Premier held bilateral talks with the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Yoshihide Suga.
Thereafter, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe met with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoichi Miyazawa.
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