Japan’s Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, met with Sri Lankan President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to reaffirm their bilateral relationships and commitment to key areas of cooperation despite human rights concerns.

Toshimitsu Motegi greeted the newly appointed President during his three-day visit, congratulating him on his victory and stating that Sri Lanka is a “special friend of Japan”. He further stated, Japan will be hosting a conferenced called “Friends of Asia” to which President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has been invited.

Motegi has maintained that Japan will continue efforts for peace, stability and reconciliation among the communities of Sri Lanka. On the issue of reconciliation, Rajapksa insisted;

"The political process of reconciliation should go ahead with overall economic development, improving infrastructure and uplifting the quality of life of the people, especially in the North and East".

Japan and Sri Lanka have agreed to work on areas of ICT development, port infrastructure as well as Disaster Prevention, Security Cooperation and other key areas. Motegi stated on the matter of bilateral relations;

"Japan intends to establish a bilateral mechanism to monitor the successful implementation of mutually agreed development projects. It will also help introduce hi-tech Japanese technology companies to Sri Lanka”.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said that Sri Lanka is open to investment from foreign countries such as Japan, China, India, Singapore, South Korea, Australia and other countries. Rajapaksa has insisted that Sri Lanka will adopt a neutral position as “Sri Lanka does not want to get caught up in the clashes of world powers”.

Read the Colombo Page's reporting here.