Japans continued assistance to Sri Lanka had greatly assisted in the rebuilding and development process of the country, said former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.
Fukuda who said he visited Sri Lanka six months back and had witnessed the dividends of peace in the country, said that his association with Sri Lanka dates back many years with the formation of the Japan - Sri Lanka Association of which he was the former president.
He was speaking at a reception at the Sri Lankan embassy in Tokyo held for Japanese and diplomatic dignitaries at the Reiyukai Centre in Tokyo on February 6 following the official ceremony on February 4 hosted for the Sri Lankan community.
Fukuda was of the view that with the commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic relations, both countries should make further efforts to deepen relations.
Guest of honour, Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Hirofumi Hirano who is also the president of the DPJ Japan - Sri Lanka Parliamentarians League, thanked the Sri Lankan government for the assistance extended in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake.
The minister also highlighted that preparations are underway to form an All-Party Japan Sri Lanka Parliamentarians League in the near future.
Hirano also stressed the importance of people - to - people exchanges, especially with the current Sri Lankan student population in Japan being around 740.
Ambassador Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda recognized the strong relations between Japan and Sri Lanka and emphasized that this year with the commemoration of 60 years of diplomatic ties, further efforts would be made to showcase the growing relations. The ambassador focused on the Overseas Development Assistance of Japan to Sri Lanka and said that it continues to make a positive contribution to the economic and social tapestry of the country.
He said that with permanent peace having dawned in the country nearly three years ago under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a surge of economic and trading activity is clearly visible due to peace and stability.
Other attendees included Japanese governments representative for Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi, JICA president Sadako Ogata and former Parliamentary vice minister of Foreign Affairs and member of the House of Representatives Makiko Kikuta. Vice ministers and over 15 senior Japanese parliamentarians and over 70 ambassadors and diplomatic dignitaries attended the event.