Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka.
Two years have passed since I arrived in Colombo on 16 October 2011 as the 21st Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka. I have committed myself to further promote the Japan-Sri Lanka relationship in various fields such as politics, economy, economic cooperation, defence and cultural exchanges.
Our political relationship culminated when H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka made an official visit to Japan in March 2013. The President had a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan. Following this meeting the two leaders signed the Japan-Sri Lanka Joint Statement entitled “Strengthening Japan-Sri Lanka Partnership beyond the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations”. As a follow up to the President's visit, H.E. Mr. Taro Aso, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Japan visited Sri Lanka and met the President in May 2013.
One of the pillars mentioned in the Joint Statement was to strengthen economic relations between the two countries. When H.E. Mr. Minoru KIUCHI, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan visited Sri Lanka in early September 2013, he attended the Japan-Sri Lanka Government-Private Joint Forum where the representatives of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industries in Sri Lanka discussed various issues with the senior officials of the Government of Sri Lanka. It was followed by the visit of Hon. Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development to Japan, who attended a business forum and interacted with Japanese business leaders. Then, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Business Mission visited Sri Lanka just recently.
In the past two years, several major projects under the Japanese Official Development Assistance were completed successfully. Those projects covered various areas in Sri Lanka, including the Southern Expressway, Upper Kotmale Hydropower Project, Reconstruction of 5 bridges in the Eastern Province, and Jaffna Teaching Hospital. One of the main targets of Japan's economic cooperation is to help the Government of Sri Lanka achieve a balanced development throughout the country.
The increase of defence exchanges has also been well noticed. In April 2011, a fleet of ships of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) engaging in counter piracy mission visited the Colombo Port after a long interval. Since then, we have witnessed 14 port calls by the JMSDF fleets so far.
To my great pleasure, last year, Japan and Sri Lanka passed the 60th anniversary of establishment of our diplomatic relations. Several organizations joined hands with the Embassy in successfully organizing a variety of commemorative events, while the Central Bank of Sri Lanka issued a commemorative coin and the Department of Posts issued a First Day Cover and two Postage Stamps to mark this auspicious occasion.
I wish our partnership could be taken to a new stage beyond the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, building on the positive developments mentioned above as well as the advent of peace and stability in Sri Lanka after the conclusion of armed conflict. Furthermore, I hope you find the website useful to obtain information on the broadening Japan- Sri Lanka relations.
Nobuhito HOBO
Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka
29 October, 2013
