News
Japan advises NPP govt. on how to strengthen bilateral relations
… asks for transparency, predictability and level playing field
Vice-Minister for International Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan Takehiko Matsuo has emphasised three key priorities for further strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Sri Lanka.
The advice was given at the Intergovernmental Economic Policy Dialogue reconvened on Monday (16) for the first time in 10 years since July 2016. The Dialogue was co-chaired by Matsuo and K. A. Vimalenthirarajah, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co-operative Development of Sri Lanka.
Matsuo as the first point highlighted the economic development potential of Sri Lanka, particularly through the “Conceptual Roadmap on Building an Export-Oriented Industrial Corridor,” which was announced as a proposal by METI and the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) during the visit of President Dissanayaka. In this context, he emphasised the importance of promoting intra-regional trade by leveraging the vast South Asian market, as well as facilitating Sri Lanka’s integration into global supply chains.
Matsuo stressed the importance of enhancing preparedness and response capabilities in times of crisis as the second point. He noted that strengthening financial resilience requires reducing overreliance on tourism, remittances from migrant workers, and tea exports, and advancing economic diversification.
The Japanese Vice Minister emphasised the need to promote positive success stories as the third most important point. In order to attract investment and encourage market entry into Sri Lanka, it is essential to further improve the business environment by addressing challenges faced by Japanese companies operating in the country, he said.
A large-scale business delegation, composed of around 40 business leaders and led by Fumihiko KOBAYASHI, Chairman of the Japan–Sri Lanka Business Co-operation Committee and Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of ITOCHU Corporation, also participated in the Dialogue.
Referring to the importance of addressing concrete issues Japanese companies operating in Sri Lanka are facing, Ambassador Akio Isomata expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the BOI and other relevant agencies of the GoSL in establishing the Japan-Sri Lanka Committee on Business Environment last August and for having been convening working-level meetings since then.
In that regard, the Ambassador emphasised the three fundamental elements of a sound business environment, namely, “transparency”, “predictability” and “non-discriminatory treatment (level playing field).”
The Ambassador also asked for an early realization and effective implementation of a single window system for investment approval procedures to facilitate future investment. He also said that Japan would like to see, as a way forward, to invite investors to Sri Lanka, an economic development strategy, including policies on the diversification of export products and markets that will lead the country to a sustainable growth. He mentioned further that Japan would also like to see sector-wise industrial promotion roadmaps in a clear-cut manner so that foreign investors can understand potential investment opportunities in Sri Lanka.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to relocate the Deniyaya Base Hospital after constructing a new hospital with a capacity of 300 beds at an estimated cost of Rupees 6,000 million.
The Southern Provincial Department of Health has acquired a plot of land in Handford estate which is approximately 03 kilometres away from the town for this purpose.
News
Cabinet nod to legally empower methodology for implementing the ‘Praja Shakthi’ poverty alleviation national movement
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval for the resolution furnished by the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment to instruct the Legal Draftsman to draft a bill to legally empower the implementation of ‘Praja Shakthi’ (Strength of the Community) poverty alleviation national movement
…preliminary work started on new Constitution
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva yesterday (17) maintained that the NPP government was not under Indian pressure to hold the long delayed Provincial Council elections.
The top JVP official said so appearing on Sirasa Pathikada, anchored by Asoka Dias. Tilvin Silva said that neither the devolution nor terrorism issues had been discussed during his meeting with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor, in New Delhi. This was Tilvin Silva’s first visit to India.
Declaring that politics hadn’t been on the agenda, the JVPer said that the Indian focus was entirely on economic development and technology.
The JVP General Secretary visited India under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations’ (ICCR) Distinguished Visitors Programme from 5-12 February 2026. General Secretary Silva was accompanied by Kitnan Selvaraj, MP, Ilankumaran Karunanathan, MP, JVP Central Committee Member Janaka Adhikari, JVP’s Media Unit Head Hemathilaka Gamage and Member of JVP’s International Relations Department Kalpana Madhubhashini. The delegation visited New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram.
Responding to another query, Tilvin Silva said that Dr. S. Jaishankar had reiterated that India would always remain a true and trusted partner for Sri Lanka, in accordance with its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and Vision ‘MAHASAGAR.’
Referring to the second JVP insurrection in the late 1980s, the JVPer claimed that they had not been against India but responded to the actions of the then Indian government.
Sri Lanka enacted the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in the wake of the Indo-Lanka peace accord of July 1987 to pave the way for Provincial Councils.
Tilvin Silva said that since they came to power, Indo-Sri Lanka relations had changed. “India has realised we could work together,” he said.
The JVP official said that preliminary work was underway, regarding the formulation of a new Constitution. The abolition of executive presidency and creation of an Office of President sans executive powers, too, would be addressed, he said, adding that the strengthening of the legislature was the other issue at hand.
Pointing out that the NPP had 2/3 majority in Parliament and could introduce a new Constitution on their own, Tilvin Silva said that they intended to obtain views of all and study the past processes in a bid to secure consensus. The JVP, as the party that campaigned against the introduction of executive presidency, way back in 1978, would lead the current effort to do away with the existing Constitution, he said.
Tilvin promised that they would implement what was in their manifesto.
The interviewer also raised the issue of abolishing the pensions for ex-Presidents. Tilvin Silva said that the Supreme Court, too, had approved the move to abolish pensions to ex-MPs. Therefore there was no issue with that, however, the ex-Presidents pensions couldn’t be done away with as they were made through the Constitution. That would be addressed when the government introduced a new Constitution in consultation with other stakeholders.
By Shamindra Ferdinando
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