Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on an official visit this Sunday, the External Affairs Ministry said today.

Mr. Abe will be in the country on Sept. 7 and 8 on an invitation by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“It is 24 years since the last visit of a Japanese Prime Minister to Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Government is confident that this visit will help both countries to further consolidate and expand the existing relations, particularly in trade and economic cooperation,” the Ministry statement said.  

Prime Minister Abe will be accompanied by a high level delegation, which includes business leaders from several Japanese companies, notably small and medium sized enterprises, ranging from infrastructure to food industries.  Japan has been a key partner in Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development and the forthcoming official visit of Prime Minister Abe will be an important milestone in further enhancing bilateral relations, the statement said.