Hon. Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan undertook an official visit to Sri Lanka from 4-6 January 2018.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Kono called on President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and discussed the progress of ongoing development projects in Sri Lanka with Japanese assistance. Recalling the existing friendly and cordial relations between the two countries, Minister Kono assured that development cooperation with Sri Lanka would continue. Minister Kono also indicated the desire of the government of Japan to extend assistance for infrastructure development in Sri Lanka.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tilak Marapana hosted a working luncheon in honour of the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister during which the two Foreign Ministers discussed matters of mutual interest, including the promotion of investment and trade and economic, agriculture, science and technology, defence and maritime cooperation as well as cooperation in regional and multilateral fora. The two Ministers also stressed the importance of seaport connectivity for trade and economic development of both countries. The working luncheon was attended by Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Minister of Special Assignments; Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Disaster Management; Navin Dissanayake, Minister of Plantation Industries and Prasad Kariyawasam, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both Ministers welcomed the proposed visit by the Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship League to Sri Lanka from 8-10 January 2018 and the visit by the delegation of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 25-26 January 2018, and underlined the importance of such visits in deepening the bilateral cooperation and understanding.  

The two Ministers agreed on the need for full implementation of the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions with regard to North Korea.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

5 January 2017