TOKYO (NewsRadio); President Ranil Wickremesinghe has called on His Majesty Emperor of Japan Naruhito.
The President’s Media Division said the meeting between President Wickremesinghe and Emperor Naruhito took place at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
Day two of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s official visit to Japan is today.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is also scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida today for bilateral discussions.
Yesterday, President Wickremesinghe attended the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The funeral was held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo last evening.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe attends the funeral of Shinzo Abe
The President was accompanied by his Chief-Of-Staff Sagala Ratnayake.
Several foreign dignitaries including Vice-President of the United States of America Kamala Haris, also attended the funeral.
Representatives from over 100 countries, including more than 20 heads of state and governments, attended former Prime Minister Abe’s funeral.
The former prime minister reshaped Japan’s foreign policy, including setting out a bold vision for a quantum leap in ties with Sri Lanka.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot dead while making a campaign speech on July 8 in the southern Japanese city of Nara.
Sri Lanka observed a one-day national mourning on the 12th of July as a mark of respect for former Japanese Premier Abe.
Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday held talks with Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong.
Singapore looking forward to investing in SL -PM Loong
The President’s Media Division said during the meeting, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong informed President Ranil Wickremesinghe that Singapore is looking forward to investing in Sri Lanka once again.
President Wickremesinghe has informed the Singaporean Prime Minister that an international trade office was being established in the President’s office.
The Head of State has also explained that his priority is to bring into effect the Free Trade Agreement with Singapore. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had welcomed the news.
Meanwhile, President Wickremesinghe has invited the Singaporean Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka next year when the country celebrates its 75th Independence Anniversary.
President Wickremesinghe also held discussions with Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo last morning.
Sri Lanka to back Japan & India to become permanent UN Security Council members
During the meeting, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has expressed Sri Lanka’s willingness to support both Japan’s and India’s campaign to become permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
The Japanese Foreign Minister had welcomed the news, stressing that Asia required greater representation on the world stage.
The President’s Media Division said during the meeting, Foreign Minister Hayashi welcomed Sri Lanka’s progress with the International Monetary Fund and expressed his country’s willingness to take a leading role in Sri Lanka’s creditor talks.
Meanwhile, President Wickremesinghe has expressed regret over the breakdown of relations between Japan and Sri Lanka following the cancellation of several investment projects by the former government.
The PMD said during the meeting with the Japanese Foreign Minister, the President stressed that he is keen to restart those projects. President Ranil Wickremesinghe has also indicated that the government was interested in Japan investing in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy projects.
Meanwhile, Japan Foreign Minister Hayashi explained that Japan had increased its commitment to renewable energy and would be willing to explore future investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
The Foreign Minister also explained that Japan would begin the skilled worker examinations in January 2023 for Sri Lankan migrant workers.
President Wickremesinghe and the Sri Lanka delegation left the Bandaranaike International Airport to Japan on Sunday (26).
Following the completion of the visit to Japan, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to travel to the Philippines.
During his visit to Manila, President Wickremesinghe is scheduled to meet his Philippines counterpart Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe will also participate in the 55th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank in the Philippines.
The meeting will be worked-off until the 30th of September.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is also the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank.
President Wickremesinghe is scheduled to return to the country on the 30th of September.
