Ranil expresses condolences [March 23 2011]

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his deepest sympathies to Emperor Akihito and the Japanese Government in the wave of the destruction caused by the earthquake which was followed by a tsunami.

Opposition Leader making a special statement in parliament said no country in the recent times faced to such disaster and nobody anticipated an earthquake of over 9 scale magnitude.

Wickremesinghe said the Japanese Government has immensely helped Sri Lanka towards its so many projects such as Samanalawewa project and the establishment of Sri Jayawardenapura hospital and the National Youth Services. “Therefore the thoughts of our people are always with the Japanese people”, he said.

The Opposition Leader said as a Buddhist country, Japanese Government is maintaining a longstanding bilateral relationship with Sri Lanka. Japan can be described as the major country which has made the highest number of relief assistance and various other aid to Sri Lanka during the past few years.