Seventy years of our diplomatic journey!

Message from Ambassador MIZUKOSHI Hideaki on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka, falls on April 28, 2022.

On April 28, 1952 Japan and Sri Lanka established the formal diplomatic relations. As today marks its 70th anniversary, I wish to convey my warmest greetings to our valued friends in this beautiful island nation on behalf of the government and people of Japan.

The diplomatic ties between Japan and Sri Lanka were formed as a result of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which came into effect on the same day as mentioned above. The Treaty reinstated Japan in the community of nations with a spirit of reconciliation, fairness, and generosity, and placed Japan on the track of rapid postwar reconstruction. 

Gaining IBRD membership in August the same year was a major turning point, enabling Japan to borrow millions of dollars from the World Bank. The hefty loan was used to develop infrastructure facilities to fortify the key industries, which led Japan’s annual GNP to grow by more than 10% over the next two decades. Witnessing such growth record unprecedented in the world economic history, Economist termed the phenomenon Japan’s postwar “economic miracle”. Japan, the country categorized as “heavy borrower” in 1953, became the second largest shareholder of the World Bank in 1984, and completed the full repayments of the loan, which amounted US$ 863 million expanding over 31 projects, in 1990 successfully. 

Her own history of “rising from the ashes” lies at the root of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA), and this holds true for the assistance to Sri Lanka as well. While Japanese ODA, on the one hand, has been channeled into developing socio-economic infrastructure, private investments, on the other hand, are getting increasingly attracted, stimulated by the improvement of investment climate, thus creating the multiplier effect for economic growth. Many more Japanese companies are setting their foot in Sri Lanka, and are exploring business opportunities in a variety of areas. Colombo Dockyard PLC, Noritake Lanka Porcelain and YKK LANKA (PVT) LTD are some of the leading companies in manufacturing industry, contributing not only to promoting skilled employment but also to acquiring foreign currency through their growing export.     

Unified by the eternal teaching of the Great Teacher, Japan and Sri Lanka nourish the relationship, not of convenience or efficiency, but of genuine friendship that stand the test of time. Our relations will further grow, as we rise and stand tall together in the face of new challenges -with unvarying spirit of “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” 

       
As the tide of new era shifts towards the Indo-Pacific regions with Sri Lanka at its heart, Japan’s ODA has also geared to, and evolved into promoting “Quality Infrastructure” development, which ensures the economic growth to be more resilient, inclusive and sustainable for developing countries. With this renewed engagement, in conjunction with Japan’s particular strength in human resource development, financial empowerment, as well as quality management as demonstrated in “Kaizen” and “5 S”, the development partnership between Japan and Sri Lanka, I am certain, is bound to grow in many years to come with greater significance and relevance.     

J.R. Jayewardene addressing the San Francisco peace conference in 1951

While strong economic relations play leading role in promoting our bilateral relations as driving force, the higher values embedded in long tradition of democracy and shared aspirations for permanent peace, stemming from our common faith in Buddhism, serves as our ever-radiant guiding principles. 

Such noble course of our relations was firmly set by J.R. Jayewardene at the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco on September 6, 1951. In his moving speech, which solidified the tone of the San Francisco Peace Conference, J.R. Jayewardene quoted from the sacred scripture of Dhammapada, phrased in “Hatred ceases not by hatred, but by love”, and expressed strong support for free and independent Japan and renounced reparations claims at the same time.    

In his moving speech, which solidified the tone of the San Francisco Peace Conference, J.R. Jayewardene quoted from the sacred scripture of Dhammapada, phrased in “Hatred ceases not by hatred, but by love”, and expressed strong support for free and independent Japan and renounced reparations claims at the same time.

The virtuous words of Gautama Buddha spring none other than from the essence of Metta (loving-kindness) and Karuna (compassion) - the sublime state of mind - in which the soul of our friendship dwells. Unified by the eternal teaching of the Great Teacher, Japan and Sri Lanka nourish the relationship, not of convenience or efficiency, but of genuine friendship that stand the test of time. Our relations will further grow, as we rise and stand tall together in the face of new challenges -with unvarying spirit of “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” 

We have witnessed many occasions as such, like in the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami in 2004, the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, and the global pandemic of COVID-19 most recently, to name a few.  Japan’s engagement in peace facilitation after the ceasefire agreement in 2002, led by AKASHI Yasushi, is also clear manifestation of mutual trust that has been forged since the dawn of our diplomatic relations. AKASHI Yasushi, received “Sri Lanka Ratna” in 2019 in recognition of his great contribution to peace building, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Sri Lanka.

The anniversary marks a valuable opportunity to recall the legacy that we inherit from the great founders of our relations, and to reflect how far we have come from its origin. 

So where do our relations stand today? 
Kalakanni Jataka, which teaches us the value of friendship, gives us a hint:
“If someone walks seven steps with you, he becomes your friend. If someone spends twelve days with you, he becomes your very good friend. If it is for months and months, he becomes like a kinsman. If you live together longer, you become soul-mates.”