Japan and Sri Lanka close co-opration

Japan's Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada during a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo, referred to the first hand impressions he had formed during his visit to Sri Lanka, including visits to Kilinochchi and Jaffna in May this year.

He said the Japanese government looks forward to close co-operation with Sri Lanka in economic development and issues relating to reconciliation.

Japan's Deputy Prime Minister expressed appreciation of the blessings he had received at the Sacred Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. He said these blessings provided him with strength and encouragement as he addresses the crucial tasks in which he is engaged with regard to social security and tax reform in Japan.

Minister Peiris briefed Okada on the work now in hand in Sri Lanka with regard to implementation of a wide range of recommendations by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed confidence the bilateral relationship between Sri Lanka and Japan would be even stronger in the years to come than it had been in the last 60 years.

Okada and Prof Peiris identified areas of collaboration, which are especially appropriate at this time. Prof Peiris also had discussions with Japan's Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology Minister Hirofumi Hirano and Japan- Sri Lanka Parliamentary League president.