Japanese ambassador pays courtesy call on Youth and Sports Minister

Views exchanged on developing bilateral relations

Japanese ambassador MIZUKOSHI Hideaki who paid a courtesy call on Youth and Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa, exchanged views on developing bilateral relations by further strengthening sports interaction between the two countries in celebration of the 70th anniversary of bilateral ties, a statement from the embassy said.   
They recalled the great success of Tokyo 2020, which brought Sri Lanka the glory of gold and silver medals in the Men’s Javelin Throw at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.   

“To celebrate the 70th anniversary with exciting baseball matches, they also discussed the possibility of holding exhibition matches at Sri Lanka-Japan Friendship Baseball Ground at Diyagama, which also marks 10th anniversary this year since its opening in December 2012, where Namal Rajapaksa graced the occasion as the chief guest.   

Minister Rajapaksa and Ambassador Mizukoshi shared their views on the great potential in the area of youth exchange and discussed the ways to nourish friendship among the youth, by providing Japanese language courses for vocational training, as well as promoting mutual understanding through acquainting historic friendship that has been enjoyed between Japan and Sri Lanka consistently over the past 70 years. The meeting was held in a cordial and lively atmosphere most befitting the beginning of the anniversary year,” the statement said.