MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY NOBUHITO HOBO, AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN

More wide-ranged cooperation expected

          I would like to convey my heartiest felicitations on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka.

          On 28th April 1952, Japan and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations when the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into force. Sri Lanka and Japan have nurtured a longstanding relationship dating back to many centuries. Since Sri Lanka is located at the Southern tip of the Indian sub-continent, adjoining sea lanes from Europe to the Far East, many Japanese nationals visited Sri Lanka on their way to Europe and back since ancient times.

          The late President J.R.Jayawardene who was then Minister of Finance, in his speech at the San Francisco Peace Conference made an impassioned plea in favor of admitting Japan into the Comity of Nations quoting the words of the Lord Buddha, “Hatred ceases not by hatred, but by love. This speech deeply moved and inspired the Japanese people at a time when we were faced with immense difficulties following World War II. The Japanese people have appreciated the warm sentiments expressed by your country, and cooperated with your people to strengthen the bonds of friendship. Rising from devastation by the War, we have moved forward in the reconstruction of our country. Since then, our two countries have nurtured friendly cooperative relations by the continuous efforts of our peoples. The goodwill that was generated in the aftermath of the Conference laid the foundation for the expeditious establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

          During the last 6 decades, our relationship has extended to every conceivable area of co-operation. Being a true friend of Sri Lanka, Japan has been instrumental in the development and improvement of our socio-economic infrastructure.In this regard, I would like to note the visits of Their Imperial Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess(81’), the Prime Minister ToshikiKaifu (90’), Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino (92’), the Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi (03’), former Prime Minister and Honorary President of Japan-Sri Lanka Association to Sri Lanka Yasuo Fukuda (08’,10’) to Sri Lanka and visits of the President J.R. Jayawardene (79’), the Prime Minister R.Premadasa (85’), the Prime Minister D.B. Wijetunga (90’), the President ?C.B. Kumaratunga (96’), the Prime Minister R. Wickremasinghe (03’), the President M. Rajapaksa (07’), the Prime Minister R. Wickramanayake (08’) to Japan.

          In the beginning of the twenty-first century, right after the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002, the Japanese Government appointed Mr. Yasushi Akashi, former UN Under-Secretary General, as the Representative of the Government on Peace-Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, and hascontributed toward the consolidation of peace in Sri Lanka. Since the end of conflict in 2009, Japan is continuously supporting the Government of Sri Lanka’s efforts towards enhancing national reconciliation in order to achieve the lasting peace and further development.

          During the past 60 years, Japan and Sri Lanka have maintained the bonds of friendship on a firm foundation. I hasten to recall with gratitude the assistance provided by the Government and people of Sri Lanka to the Government and people of Japan in the aftermath of the devastating Great East Earthquake and Tsunami on 11thMarch 2011. That assistance contributed in no small measure to further consolidate our bonds of friendship. I hopethe future development of our friendly and cooperative bilateral relationship would further strengthen this 60-year bonds of friendship as friends in deed.