Japan and Sri Lanka to further strengthen maritime security cooperation between the two nations
Japanese Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera, who was on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena have reportedly discussed on the further strengthening of maritime security cooperation between Japan and Sri Lanka.
The meeting between the Japanese Minister of Defence and President Maithripala Sirisena was held at the Presidential Secretariat recently.
It was the first time that a Japanese Defence Minister visited Sri Lanka and the Minister was warmly welcomed by the President.
According to reports, the implementation of the agreements entered during President Sirisena’a recent visit to Japan were further reviewed and ways to develop defence cooperation between the two countries while expanding the relationship between Japan and Sri Lanka were discussed during the meeting.
Special attention is to be given towards strengthening defence cooperation encompassing maritime security.
As a result of the discussions held between President Sirisena and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Japanese government has taken steps to provide two patrol boats for the Sri Lankan Costal Guards costing Rs. 1.8 billion.
OSL take:
The recent visit to Sri Lanka by the Japanese Defence Minister is a sign of the continuously growing ties between Sri Lanka and Japan. The Defence Minister’s discussion on further strengthening cooperation between the two countries is a follow up to the discussions and agreements reached during the Sri Lankan President’s visit to Japan a few months back. Foreign businesses/investors could use the close ties between Sri Lanka and Japan to set up operations in Sri Lanka in order to engage in business with Japan.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/23082018/Z_3 |