Rapid implementation of Comprehensive Partnership:

Japan gives Rs 50b aid

Strengthening economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Japan, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed Japan’s intention to provide 38 billion yen (Around Rs 50 billion) as Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans to Sri Lanka to promote socio- economic development in Sri Lanka, when he met President Maithripala Sirisena in Nagoya, Japan following the Outreach Meeting during the G7 Ise-Shima Summit.

The Japanese Government has promised ODA loans for the construction of power transmission lines in the North Central and Eastern Provinces and water supply facilities in the North Central Province.

The transmission lines will permit electricity generated at the power plants planned in the Eastern Province to the City of Colombo, a media statement issued after the bilateral meeting between President Maitripala Sirisena and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, stated.

The Japanese Premier has also expressed his desire to contribute to national development efforts in Sri Lanka, by positively considering the provision of Development Policy Loan (DPL), which supports policy and institutional reform in macro-economic and public financial management, as well as the promotion of the private sector.

During this discussion, the Japanese Prime Minister also expressed his willingness to continue cooperation regarding the development of the Colombo Port and its vicinity under the public and private sector cooperation agreement.

Prime Minister Abe also expressed his intention to send survey missions to study the needs and the logistics for hub development of the North Port of Colombo and its surrounding areas, as well as the development of the Trincomalee Port.

During the bilateral meeting, the two leaders extensively discussed ways and means of improving maritime cooperation between the two countries, while acknowledging the importance of the steady progress of the Project for Maritime Safety Capability Improvement (worth approximately 1.8 billion yen), that includes the provision of two patrol vessels.

The media statement said both leaders shared the view, considering the fact Sri Lanka is strategically located in the Indian Ocean, that the development of the country and strengthening regional connectivity were of critical importance to the prosperity of the entire region.

Both leaders reaffirmed that they would strengthen cooperation for the implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership between Japan and Sri Lanka and the Partnership for Quality Infrastructure.

They recognized the importance of Port development in Sri Lanka, as a key hub nation in the Indian Ocean given the rising demand and rapid growth of the region. Prime Minister Abe conveyed Japan’s decision to extend assistance for the development of a master plan of the City of Kandy, which would enable the urban development needs of the ancient city with appropriate consideration for the protection of the cultural heritage. Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention to send a study mission, the statement added.

During this discussion both leaders welcomed Sri Lanka’s decision to adopt the Japanese system ofDigital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) and the progress of bilateral work to ensure a smooth transition to the DTTB Japanese system, including the establishment of a bilateral Joint Committee to facilitate implementation of the project and holding the first meeting of the committee in June.

President Sirisena stated that the implementation of Digitalization of Terrestrial Analogue Television has been assigned to the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media.

Both leaders welcomed the convening of the first round of the Policy Dialogue at the Senior Official Level of the two Foreign Ministries and the inaugural Sri Lanka-Japan Dialogue on Maritime Security, Safety and Oceanic Issues in January 2016 in Colombo.

Both leaders recognized the importance of the ongoing national reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, and welcomed the exchange of notes regarding the Project for the Establishment of Research and Training Complex at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna (worth approximately 1.7 billion yen) on 18 May, 2016.

The leaders of two countries also decided to establish a Joint Committee with a view to ensuring the expeditious implementation of the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership(CP) between Japan and Sri Lanka and to promote concrete cooperation in such areas as economic development, maritime security, national reconciliation and peace -building, the media statement added.