Japan will strengthen 60-year relationship - Ambassador Hobo

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

Sri Lanka, recorded a high level of post conflict recovery with over 80 percent of economic growth and expecting a high growth performance this year as well, is reaping dividence of peace after ending the 30-year-long conflict, the Japanese Ambassador Nobuhito Hobo said.

He said "Sri Lanka's recovery after ending the conflict is amazing".

In a brief interview with the Sunday Observer the Japanese envoy said since the end of the conflict over 40,000 tourists visited the country, which had a speedy recovery to gain lost chances of development.

Magnificent achievement

"It was reported that Sri Lanka has achieved $ 2,800 per capita income, which is the highest in this region. It is magnificent achievement, he said adding that this was the basic factor which contributed for prosperity in peace and Sri Lanka is already on the path to achieve it.

Hobo said since the end of the conflict in 2009, Japan was continuously supporting the Government's efforts towards enhancing national reconciliation to achieve lasting peace and further development but reconciliation among communities could only be achieved by the Sri Lankan people. " We expect the reconciliation process to take place as soon as possible", he said.

The Ambassador said Sri Lanka could set Japan's recovery as an example to achieve prosperity.

"Japan in the aftermath of the war didn't have any natural resources and we had to rise from the ashes".

Training

We depended only on the people and Japan achieved prosperity through training and utilised its capabilities to export Japanese products to the world.

Sri Lanka can follow the same, he said adding that there are lot to do to attract investors to Sri Lanka, however it is a the beginning and Sri Lanka can have hope as Sri Lanka's stable economy is conducive for investment.

Commenting about the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka he said since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka in 1952, bilateral relations have been promoted in various fields such as political, diplomatic, economic and cultural exchanges. Japan's economic cooperation has played an active role in the development of Sri Lanka.

"As I have even worked in the field of economic cooperation for many years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), I would like to make the most of my past experience while serving as Ambassador in Sri Lanka", said Hobo, the 21st Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka.

He said since the end of the conflict the government has seriously engaged in the protection and resettlement activities of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) which amounted to almost 300,000 persons. "Japan, in cooperation with other countries and international organisations, has supported Sri Lanka's efforts by providing emergency relief, food and de-mining assistance. The

National reconciliation

Government of Japan is encouraging the Sri Lankan Government to focus on the importance of national reconciliation to achieve long lasting peace.

Talking about the diplomatic relations between the two countries he said on April 28th 1952, Japan and Sri Lanka established diplomatic relations when the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into force. Sri Lanka and Japan have nurtured a long-standing 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 favour 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.

Friendly relations

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, the Ambassador said.

He said during the last six decades, relationship between the two countries has extended to every conceivable area of co-operation and being a true friend of Sri Lanka, Japan has been instrumental in the development and improvement of our socio-economic infrastructure.

Ambassador Hobo said at the beginning of the twenty-first century, right after the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002, the Japanese Government appointed Yasushi Akashi, former UN Under-Secretary General, as the Representative of the Government on Peace-Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, and has contributed towards the consolidation of peace in Sri Lanka.

"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 tsunami March 11, 2011.

That assistance contributed in no small measure to further consolidate our bonds of friendship. I hope the future development of our friendly and cooperative bilateral relationship would further strengthen this 60-year bond of friendship as friends in deed", he said.

60th Anniversary

He said several commemorative events are on the cards throughout the year starting from January 21 and several Japanese dignitaries including its business community would arrive in Sri Lanka to mark the 60th Anniversary.

Japan, as a strong partner of the country's social and economic development has provided assistance amounting to over Rs. 1,525 billion since 1965 to 2010 in the form of grants, loans and technical cooperation.

Japan's assistance to Sri Lanka ranges from large scale infrastructure development to community development at the grass roots level.

Believing firmly that peace and reconciliation are pre-requisites for sustainable development and prosperity, Japan has provided assistance to reconstruct the former conflict affected North and East by becoming a major donors in mine-clearing, providing emergency humanitarian assistance.

Japan has granted an additional $ 785,000 (approximately Rs. 86 million) aid for humanitarian de-mining in the North through the HALO Trust to expedite the de-mining to facilitate resettlement process.

In addition to de-mining assistances, Japan has extended assistance for development in the North through projects such as improvement of central facilities of Jaffna Teaching Hospital, construction of Vavuniya-Kilinochchi Transmission Line, urgent rehabilitation of resettled communities in Jaffna and Mannar districts, digital topographic mapping, and training for public officers.