Speaking to the media today, Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, denied reports that Japan would hold a debt restructuring conference for Sri Lanka.
The foreign minister’s statement follows a contradictory statement from Japan’s finance minister, Shunichi Suzuki, who had asserted that Japan would coordinate with other creditors to resolve Sri Lanka’s ongoing financial crisis.
Japan is one of Sri Lanka’s largest creditors, and whilst the foreign minister highlighted the humanitarian assistance the country was providing Sri Lanka, he remained silent on Sri Lanka’s repeated requests for debt relief.
China, another major creditor, has similarly remained tight-lipped on plans for debt restructuring but has stated that it would be willing to refinance loans to the island.
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