Business
Japanese Embassy to follow up on President’s discussions in Tokyo
- Acting Ambassador inspires hope on resuming ODA projects spearheaded by Japan
- Hopes transparency and consistency will be enhanced through reforms
- Urges Sri Lanka to work on rooting out corruption and reforming SOEs
- Says Expo 2025 in Osaka can enhance attractiveness of Sri Lanka to the world
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Kotaro Katsuki, the Acting Ambassador for Japan in Sri Lanka said in Colombo on May 26 that the Japanese Embassy would follow through the bilateral economic cooperation and business discussions President Ranil Wickremesinghe had during his visit to Japan last week.
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressed the 28th Nikkei Future of Asia Conference held in Tokyo. During this visit, President Wickremesinghe held bilateral discussions with Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Minister of Finance Suzuki Shunichi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hayashi Yoshimasa and Minister for Digital Transformation Taro Kono. President Wickremesinghe also exchanged views with the business community at economic events, which we believe will lead to stronger bilateral relations and we will be following through the action items of these business and economic events,” he said.
The Ambassador made these remarks while delivering the keynote speech as Chief Guest at the ceremonial opening of the ‘Build SL’ Housing and Construction International Exhibition 2023, organised by the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe during his visit to Japan last week engaged in a pivotal business roundtable on ‘Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival and Opportunities for Japanese Enterprise,’ where he presented the nation’s commitment to stabilising and liberalising the economy while earnestly inviting new Japanese ventures.
The Acting Ambassador further speaking at the Build SL launch ceremony said,” It is my great pleasure to be invited to the Build SL Housing & Construction Expo 2023 of Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka. I congratulate Sri Lanka on obtaining the approval of the IMF Executive Board on March 20th for its Extended Fund Facility. This came after a lot of work done by the Sri Lankan authorities and recognition from the international community on the reforms that have been carried out such as fiscal reform. We welcome this major step towards the revitalization of the Sri Lankan economy. The ‘Build SL’ exhibition comes at a very timely moment, which brings together companies in the construction industry with great potential to stimulate economic growth of this country.”
“Last year, Japan and Sri Lanka celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations established in 1952, and the construction of the Inginimitiya Irrigation Dam began in 1978 as the first Official Development Assistance (ODA) project.”
“In the 80s, development projects were carried out at the Colombo Port. In the 90s, Baseline Road improvement and Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Bridge expansion projects were implemented. In the 2000s, the Colombo International Airport improvement project and the construction of the Southern Expressway, the first expressway in Sri Lanka, and Colombo Outer Circular Highway as well as local road improvement and development projects added to the list. In the 2010s, consultations for Phase 2 of the Bandaranaike International Airport Improvement Project began, as well as major bridges construction project of the national road network and the landslide disaster protection project of the national road.”
“It’s a great honour to see some of the Japan’s iconic ODA projects adorning Sri Lanka’s currency notes in circulation blending with other distinct national symbols.”
“After my arrival in Sri Lanka in August 2021, the Golden Gate Kalyani Bridge, was completed in November of that year, This Bridge has become a landmark in the metropolis of Colombo and has contributed significantly to easing traffic congestion on surrounding roads, and is the first ever extradosed engineering design in Sri Lanka. We are delighted to have been able to transfer Japanese state of the art technology to Sri Lanka through this project.”
“The Japanese Embassy building in Gregory’s Road is currently undergoing refurbishing. In all of these projects, Sri Lankan construction companies have been good partners of Japanese companies in its implementation and the construction industry has made a significant contribution to the country’s development. However, we are aware that the entire industry has been severely affected by the current economic crisis, which has led to the suspension of public works projects.”
“Allow me to touch upon some contributions by Japan in response to the economic crisis in Sri Lanka. In order to support Sri Lanka, the Government of Japan has provided up to approximately 93 million USD worth of inundated grant assistance to Sri Lanka since 2022.”
“Sri Lanka has been going through difficult times due to a series of adversities such as the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019, the outbreak of COVID-19 and the ongoing economic and social crisis. However, now is a great opportunity to recover from this situation. To that end, based on the IMF agreement, we would be delighted to see Sri Lanka assiduously work on a series of reforms such as rooting out corruption and reforming state-owned enterprises.”
“Moreover, in order to make the economy more export-oriented and competitive as mentioned in the 2023 budget, it should entail further strengthening of the manufacturing industry across the board and promotion of the export industry by connecting it to the global supply chain. In considering future assistance to Sri Lanka, Japan would like to support Sri Lanka’s effort to make its economy more resilient.”
“In addition, it is essential to attract foreign investment in order to achieve sustainable and stable economic growth by way of improving the investment environment. We hope that transparency, efficiency and consistency will be enhanced through the reforms, which are taking place.”
“Now, I would like to catch up on future-oriented initiatives spearheaded by Japan that will lead to further development of both Japanese and Sri Lankan companies and collaboration between our respective companies.”
“The first initiative is related to climate change and decarbonisation. In October 2022, our two countries signed an agreement on a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM). With the collaboration between Japanese and Sri Lankan companies and the support from the Japanese government, this Joint Crediting Mechanism will allow for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by harnessing decarbonisation and renewable energy technologies to Sri Lanka. With this program, it is hoped that Japanese companies will find it more attractive to invest in the field of renewable energies or decarbonization projects in Sri Lanka with their innovative technologies and solutions.”
“Japan is going to hold Expo 2025 in Osaka in April 2025. This event will present another great opportunity to attract attention and investment from Japan to Sri Lanka, in the field of trade, investment and tourism. The Sri Lankan government has already expressed its intention to participate in this event. I hope that both the private and public sectors of Sri Lanka will jointly make the most out of this Expo 2025 to promote the attractiveness of Sri Lanka to the world. I hope that these initiatives will bring about new business opportunities for both Sri Lankan and Japanese businesses.”
“In the future, the development of the construction industry in Sri Lanka will become increasingly important for the country to overcome the current economic crisis and achieve sustainable development. Japan will continue to be involved in the resumption of ODA projects, including the Bandaranaike International Airport expansion project, which is currently suspended due to the situation in this country and in order to move forward, it’s important for the Sri Lankan Government to work on restructuring its debt and to improve the economic and financial situation in a transparent manner working closely with the IMF, Paris Club and other entities.”
The Acting Japanese Ambassador concluded his remarks by expressing Japan’s determination to continue to stand by Sri Lanka as its partner, and to support Sri Lanka to reach its full potential towards building a strong and vibrant economy.
Sri Lanka should adopt a diversified water-security strategy, says chief engineer
By Sanath Nanayakkare
For generations, the Jaffna Peninsula has relied almost entirely on an underground freshwater lens. With no major perennial rivers to lean on, the region has long walked a tightrope between water scarcity, seasonal droughts, and a creeping groundwater salinity that has challenged communities across the North. Today, however, a monumental shift is underway along the windswept Vadamaradchi coast.
To understand how Sri Lanka is rewriting its water security playbook, one need only look to the Thalaiyadi Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) Plant.
V. Vijayakanth, Chief Engineer of the Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project (JKWSSP), recently explained the engineering marvels, environmental safeguards, and long-term vision driving this landmark infrastructure project.
“Building a multi-million-gallon desalination plant on an open, deep-sea coastline facing the Indian Ocean was no small feat,” he said.
Vijayakanth noted that the project required extensive marine, geotechnical, and ecological investigations before a single pipe was laid.
“The scale of the marine installation was striking: an intake and outfall system featuring roughly 1,300 metres of large-diameter pipeline, buried two metres beneath the seabed in water depths reaching up to 12 metres. Because ocean work is strictly dictated by nature, the team had to mobilise an excavator-mounted barge from India and execute a complex offshore operation within a very tight window before the onset of the monsoon.”
“One of the greatest historical hurdles of reverse osmosis technology has been its heavy appetite for electricity. To keep operational costs in check, the Thalaiyady plant integrates state-of-the-art isobaric pressure-exchanger energy recovery systems. These devices capture hydraulic energy from the high-pressure brine reject stream and transfer it directly back to the incoming seawater feed – recovering roughly 95% of available energy and slashing power requirements.”
“Environmental stewardship was equally central to the design. To prevent high-salinity discharge from harming the marine ecosystem, the plant utilizes an offshore outfall equipped with specialized diffusers positioned more than 500 metres from the shore. This ensures rapid mixing within a tightly monitored zone, safeguarding local marine life,” he said.
Karaveddi Water Supply Scheme
The impact of the plant is already tangible on the ground. Producing water that meets rigorous national quality standards (SLS 614:2013), the facility feeds into a vast transmission network linked to elevated service reservoirs. These tanks regulate hydraulic pressure across sprawling distribution routes, bringing relief to areas historically plagued by hard, brackish water.
V. Vijayakanth, Chief Engineer of Jaffna Kilinochchi Water Supply and Sanitation Project (JKWSSP)
Currently, about 1,600 households in the Karaveddi Zone are actively connected to the desalinated supply, with water flowing across a regional network stretching from Kodikamam and Jaffna City down to distant island communities like Delft, Kayts and Punguduthivu.
The peninsula’s total daily drinking water demand hovers around 50,000 cubic metres for a population of roughly 600,000. Operating at full capacity, the Thalaiyadi plant yields 24,000 cubic metres per day – meeting nearly half of the region’s current needs.
Yet, planners are already looking decades ahead. Driven by economic development, tourism, and proposed industrial zones like Kankesanthurai, projected potable water requirements for domestic, commercial, and industrial needs are expected to climb from 95,000 cubic metres per day in 2025 to 135,000 by 2045, and 175,000 by 2065. Meeting this future trajectory will require a diversified national strategy combining desalination with surface-water preservation and rainwater harvesting.
When asked whether Sri Lanka should lean exclusively on seawater conversion amid intensifying climate volatility, Vijayakanth emphasised the need for a balanced approach: “Sri Lanka should adopt a diversified water-security strategy, prioritising sustainable surface-water development, groundwater protection, rainwater harvesting, water conservation, treated wastewater reuse and catchment protection. Desalination can complement these sources as a valuable climate-resilient and drought-proof option where appropriate.”
Backed by financial and technical collaboration from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project has given the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) invaluable expertise in advanced desalination management. Crucially, a two-year hands-on training program is ensuring that local technical staff master everything from membrane upkeep to preventive maintenance.
As climate variability accelerates, Thalaiyadi serves as a vital proof-of-concept. While energy-intensive desalination cannot replace conventional freshwater sources everywhere, Vijayakanth emphasises that it stands as an indispensable, drought-proof shield for Sri Lanka’s vulnerable dry zones – turning the ocean itself into a secure foundation for the nation’s future.
Sri Lankan fashion label Tropic Of Linen recently opened the doors to its second boutique, located at The Shoppes at City of Dreams.
For over a decade, linen has formed the core of the brand’s inspiration and business ethos. Its textures, movement, and natural irregularities carry through the striking interior of Tropic Of Linen’s newly opened second store. Large sculptural forms in wind-worn sandstone sit against softer curves, while a grand olive tree anchors the heart of the store, reaching up toward a skylight and giving life to the entire space.
Drawing on her background in fine art and design, co-founder Minha Akram envisioned a layered, sensory interior intended to draw people into the world of Tropic Of Linen and invite them to linger.
ANC Education held its 2026 graduation ceremony at BMICH, Colombo, celebrating graduates across multiple programmes. The cohort included 53 BBA graduates from Northwood University, 22 Psychological Sciences graduates from Northern Arizona University, 320 Pearson BTEC HND graduates, and 29 BTEC Level 7 graduates, alongside foundation, diploma, and transfer pathway students. Senior representatives from partner institutions attended.
Best Performer Awards recognised outstanding academic achievement. The event honoured years of hard work and support from families and educators. Since 2002, ANC has provided local and international pathways. Graduates now pursue careers, further studies, or international opportunities.
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