JAPANESE ENVOY AKASHI WELCOMES SRI LANKA’S DEVELOPMENT

Japan’s Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi has said that his country is upbeat about the rapid progress achieved by Sri Lanka.Mr. Akashi who met President Rajapaksa this morning said that Sri Lanka had achieved rapid progress within a short period after routing terrorism. Pointing out that the Southern Expressway would be a boom for the country’s development, Mr. Akashi assured Japan’s continued support for economic development in Sri Lanka.

The President thanked the Japanese Envoy for the support extended by Japan for Sri Lanka’s development. He appraised Mr. Akashi on the future activities related to the report on the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission.

Reminiscing the support given by Sri Lanka during the tsunami and earthquake crises encountered by Japan, he expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankan Government in this respect. The meeting held at the President’s House was attended by Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, President Secretary Lalith Weeratunge, Deputy Director of Southeast Asian Affairs of the Japanese Foreign Ministry Jenji Miyata, Japan’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka Nobuhitho Hobo and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Japan Wasantha Karannagoda.