Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena expressed gratitude to the Government of Japan for providing a Rs. 1,360 million grant for the provisioning of necessary medical equipment such as MRI Scanner, CT scanner, bed-side X-Ray systems and central monitors to strengthen the COVID-19 preventing activities in Sri Lanka, Parliament media division said yesterday.

The Speaker also thanked the government of Japan for providing USD 3 million through UNICEF to support the cold chain system in Sri Lanka and strengthen delivery of Immunisation services in response to the COVID -19 pandemic.

Speaker Abeywardena said this while making the welcome speech at the revival meeting of the Japan-Sri Lankan Parliamentary Friendship Association for the ninth Parliament held recently in Parliament. The meeting was held under the patronage of Speaker Abeywardena, Ambassador of Japan in Sri Lanka Akira Sugiyama and Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake and was attended by Ministers, State Ministers and Members of Parliament.

The Speaker further said that “the Bilateral relations between the two countries in the early days have mainly been in the religious and cultural spheres. These traditional bonds were developed into more valued political and economic ties in the latter half of the last century.”

“Sri Lanka was one of the nine Asian countries that participated in the San Francisco Peace Conference in Japan which was held in September 1951. Then Finance Minister, J R Jayewardene’s speech on behalf of the GOSL at the conference urging the participating countries to accept Japan into the comity of nations without any reparation in the spirit of the Buddha’s teaching continues to be deeply appreciated by Japan.”

“As we all are well aware that, Sri Lanka and Japan established Diplomatic Relations shortly after the signing of the Peace Treaty in April 1952. A Japanese mission was set up in Colombo in February 1952 and in May 1953 Sri Lanka established a Legation in Tokyo. This month (April, 2021) marks the 69th anniversary of celebration diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“Since 1993, delegations from both the Parliamentary Friendship Associations paid reciprocal visits. Apart from the visits of the Members of the Parliamentary Friendship Associations there were many high-profile bilateral visits that were undertaken by the Leaders of both the countries and Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister’s visit in September 2014 to Sri Lanka is a significant milestone in this context.”

“Excellency and dear Members, I strongly believe that we Parliamentarians, representatives of the people have the ability to promote our interests through the interaction of the Parliamentary Friendship Groups. Thus hope this meeting will also contribute to further strengthen the relations between the two countries and the Legislatures.”

At this meeting, Minister of Plantation Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, was elected as the new President of the Sri Lanka-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association.

MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, was elected as the new Secretary and MPs Selvarajah Gajendren, J. C. Alawathuwala, and Premnath C. Dolawatte, were elected as the Vice Presidents.

MP Ajith Rajapakse was elected the Treasurer and MPs Sivagnanam Shritharan and Major Sudarshana Denipitiya, as Assistant Secretaries.