Japanese Premier’s special adviser Hiroto Izumi yesterday called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to develop the East Container Terminal of the Colombo South Harbour as a joint venture partnership with Sri Lanka and India.
After meeting Dr. Izumi, Japanese Ambassador Akira Sugiyama and his team today at Temple Trees, the Prime Minister said there was much progress in Japan-Sri Lanka economic cooperation.
“East Container Terminal of the Colombo South Harbour will remain under the ownership of Sri Lanka while there will be a joint venture with the partnership of Sri Lanka, India and Japan to manage the terminal. Bandaranaike International Airport expansion project will also receive Japanese assistance. Light Railway Transit (LRT) project is now underway,” the Prime Minister said. “A LNG terminal will be built in Sri Lanka with Japanese assistance. Under the Greater Kandy Urban Development Plan, the City of Kandy will be developed with the aim to preserve the landscape and attract tourists, in line with the master plan developed for the City of Kyoto, Japan.”
The two sides had also discussed the ‘freedom of navigation’ in the Indian Ocean.
Ministers Managala Samaraweera, Ravi Karunanayake Kabir Hashim, Malik Samarawickrema, Sagala Ratnayaka, Prime Minister’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake and Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samarathunga were also present in the meeting.
