Japan PM congratulates Sri Lanka president, hopeful of improved relations
ECONOMYNEXT – In a congratulatory message to Sri Lanka’s new President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida has expressed his hope for successful IMF negotiations, swift progress in debt restructuring and cooperation between the two countries in realising a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Writing to Wickremesinghe on Tuesday August 17, Kishida said he looks forward to seeing that political stability is ensured under Sri Lanka’s new president who he said has devoted efforts to realise economic development of Sri Lanka over the years.
Wickremesinghe for his part has indicated that he plans for Sri Lanka’s ties with Japan to improve and repair any damage caused by Sri Lanka’s unilateral withdrawal from Japan-funded development projects.
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The Japanese prime minister said he expects Sri Lanka’s ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and plans for debt restructuring with “fair burden sharing among all the creditors will swiftly make progress under [President Wickremesinghe’s] leadership”.
“It is also my hope that the government of Sri Lanka will overcome the ongoing crisis as soon as possible through economic and administrative reforms and that your nation will bring itself back on track for the development of serving as a hub in the Indian ocean,” said Kishida.
President Wickremesinghe in his inaugural address to parliament said that Sri Lanka must be developed into a hub of the Indo-Pacific region.
Referring to this, Kishido said he would like to work in concert with Wickremesinghe to “further develop the cordial ties between the two nations, including cooperation for realizing a ‘Free and Open Indo- Pacific’.” (Colombo/Aug17/2022)
