President arrives in Japan to boost bilateral trade

After concluding the two-day official visit to India, President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in Japan yesterday to further strengthen the long-standing bilateral relations between Japan and Sri Lanka, the President’s Media Unit said.

A special delegation of the government of Japan warmly welcomed the president and Sri Lankan delegation at Narita International Airport in Tokyo.

During this visit, the president is scheduled to meet Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and the official welcome ceremony for Sirisena will be held at Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office on March 14.

Later, the president will hold bilateral discussions with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and during this meeting comprehensive attention will be paid to further strengthen the trade and cultural ties between the two countries. Sirisena will participate in a special business and investment conference and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). 

The Japan Business Council (JBC) and Japan Foreign Trade Council (JFTC) are also scheduled to hold discussions with the president during the tour.

Sirisena is also expecting to meet the Chief Mahasanghas of the Sri Lankan Buddhist shrines in Japan during the visit to Japan and participate in a tour of observation of a modern waste management centre. Ministers Tilak Marapana and Nimal Siripala de Silva, a group of parliament members are accompanying the president in this tour.