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Whoever wins presidential poll should adhere to IMF remedies – Japanese Ambassador

Published

2 years ago

2024/07/29

Thilina Walpola

Ambassador Mizukoshi addressing a gathering at Sasakawa Hall (pic by Jude Denzil Pathiraja)

… reveals fresh post-war reconciliation effort involving Switzerland and South Africa

Japanese Ambassador in Colombo Hideaki Mizukoshi has said Sri Lanka should remain steadfastly committed to the IMF-led recovery programme regardless of the outcome of the presidential election scheduled to be conducted later this year.

Ambassador Mizukoshi emphasised that the country couldn’t, under any circumstances, deviate from the IMF path as the agreement with the Washington-based lending agency remained the foundation for the entire debt-restructuring process.

The Japanese Ambassador cautioned political parties close on the heels of President Ranil Wickremesinghe depositing the candidate’s fee for the upcoming presidential election. UNP leader Wickremesinghe paid the deposit on Friday (26).

Addressing the members of the Lanka-Japan Friendship Society (LJFS) and invitees at the Sasakawa Memorial Hall Friday evening, Ambassador Mizukoshi said he expected Sri Lanka’s current economic policy and reforms in terms with the IMF agreement would be continued regardless of whoever became President after the next election. “We all should note that the commitment by the Sri Lankan government on the agreement with the IMF is the very basis of the agreement with the creditor countries on debt restructuring and the support of the Japanese government,” the Japanese envoy said.

Ambassador Mizukoshi took over the Japanese mission in Colombo in November 2021 during Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s tenure as the President.

The ambassador dealt with three issues namely post-Aragalaya economic relationship with focus on the debt restructuring process, his commitment to Sri Lanka’s post-war reconciliation efforts and the people-to-people relationship.

The speech delivered at the Sasakawa Memorial Hall was the first since Japan announced the resumption of disbursement of 11 Japanese-funded projects early last week. Japan suspended funding in May 2022 in the wake of Sri Lanka’s declaration of bankruptcy.

Ambassador Mizukoshi declared that the resumption of these projects would energize the Sri Lankan economy. Referring to the unprecedented political-economic-social crisis that compelled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign in July 2022, Ambassador Mizukoshi attributed the speedy improvement of economic indicators largely to freeing of fiscal policy from what he called arbitrary maneuvering and close watch maintained by the international community.

Ambassador Mizukoshi named Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Fernando and Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena as the architects of Sri Lanka’s recovery under President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s leadership. “I believe that they have implemented bold economic policies in the best interest of the country, gaining trust and respect by the international community.”

The Japanese ambassador discussed the difficulties encountered in the negotiating process especially against the backdrop of both India and China not being members of the Paris club. In the case of Sri Lanka, the number 1 creditor was China, Number 2 was Japan and number 3 was India. Neither China nor India was a member of the Paris Club, the envoy said.

Ambassador Mizukoshi acknowledged the difficulties caused to the people by the current economic policy. The ambassador made reference to the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) and cut down on subsidies on various commodities in line with the overall post-Aragalaya economic strategy.

Recalling the much needed assistance provided by Japan during this period, Ambassador Mizukoshi disclosed their emergency humanitarian assistance amounted to 100 million US dollars.

The top diplomat warned that there were many challenges ahead as Sri Lanka was at the beginning of a difficult recovery process. Highlighting recovery made by India and South Korea, the Ambassador stressed the importance of Sri Lanka following a market-oriented economy. “So, the debt crisis here can also be a blessing in disguise, and the reform programmes of the IMF will be a silver lining if Sri Lanka navigates its economy in the right direction.”

The Japanese envoy explained the daunting task in attracting Japanese investment unless Sri Lanka achieved what he called transparency of administrative procedures. Ambassador Mizukoshi stressed the responsibility on the part of the government to tackle corruption and administrative delays as well as inefficiency.

“On this point, the IMF has published the IMF Governance Diagnostic Report, a comprehensive assessment of corruption vulnerabilities. We are very much interested in supporting Sri Lanka in correcting these problems because we think they were the root causes of the collapse of the Sri Lankan economy.”

Declaring that Sri Lanka had lost appeal to Japanese investors, Ambassador Mizukoshi said: “The Japanese investors will come to Sri Lanka not when they are asked to come, but when they are convinced that Sri Lanka is a trustworthy country to do business with.”

Commenting on the eradication of the LTTE through military means, Ambassador Mizukoshi expressed concern about the continuing complaints of being discriminated against and left out of economic development in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Ambassador Mizukoshi disclosed the formation of a troika consisting of him and South African HC and Swiss Ambassador to promote and facilitate national reconciliation. “Each country has different reasons to engage in this exercise. South Africa, with its successful experience of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to heal the ethnic animosities in the country, can present a good example to Sri Lanka; Switzerland, having a good network among Tamil communities and civil societies; and Japan, having good relationship both with the government and minorities and having the potential to bring in investment as dividend of peace.”

Ambassador Mizukoshi revealed that he advised their Geneva mission appropriately after having visited the Northern and eastern Provinces (SF)

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Maldivian President plants a sapling to mark 60 years of Sri Lanka–Maldives Diplomatic Relations

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who is on a State Visit to Sri Lanka at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, planted a sapling this afternoon (04) at Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Upon arrival at the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was warmly received by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Children lined both sides of the pathway holding the national flags of the two countries and paid tribute to the visiting Maldivian President.

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Speaker Rizvi Salih, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and the Mayor of Colombo, Vraie Cally Balthazaar, along with several other dignitaries.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

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Sri Lanka and Maldives strengthen ties with productive bilateral talks

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Following the bilateral meeting between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who is currently on a State visit to Sri Lanka, official-level bilateral discussions between the delegations of the two countries were held this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussions commenced after the formal welcome ceremony accorded to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu earlier this morning within the Presidential Secretariat premises.

Extending a warm welcome to the Maldivian President, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed his appreciation for accepting the invitation to visit Sri Lanka.

President Dissanayake noted that President Muizzu’s visit, taking place as the two nations mark 61 years of diplomatic relations, reflects the strong partnership, mutual trust and longstanding friendship between Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The President further expressed confidence that the visit would mark a new phase in bilateral relations.

The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions on ways to further expand and diversify multifaceted cooperation, including economic, cultural and social ties, in a manner that delivers mutual benefits to the people of both countries.

Key areas of focus included tourism promotion, educational cooperation, youth and sports development, challenges faced by both nations in the fisheries sector within the Indian Ocean region, education and vocational training, as well as defence training and broader security cooperation.

Representing the Government of Sri Lanka were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Science and Technology, Krishantha Abeysena; Deputy Speaker Rizvie Salih, Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired), Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (covering Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania, Southeast Asia and Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Legal Affairs) M. R. K. Lenagala, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Mohamed Rizvi Hassan and Director (South Asia and SAARC) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Mahesha Jayawardena.

The Maldivian delegation included Minister of Foreign Affairs Iruthisham Adam, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed, Minister of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, Chief of Staff to the President, Abdulla Fayaz, Principal Secretary to the President on Foreign Relations, Mohamed Naseer; Chief Government Spokesperson, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, High Commissioner of the Maldives to Sri Lanka,Masood Imad; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Chief of Protocol , Mohamed Shahudy, Deputy Minister at the President’s Office, Mr Mohamed Hassaan and Minister Counsellor at the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka, Mr. Ismail Mamdhooh.

[President’s Media Division (PMD)]

News

Maldives and Sri Lanka exchange seven MOUs

Published

4 hours ago

2026/05/4

Priyan

Seven Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), signed across several sectors between the Maldives and Sri Lanka, were formally exchanged this morning (04) at the Presidential Secretariat in the presence of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives.

Marking a new chapter in Maldives–Sri Lanka relations, the MoUs cover cooperation in the fields of health, sports, tourism, education and defence.

Accordingly:

1. MoU on Tourism Cooperation between the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

2. MoU on Archiving Cooperation between the Department of National Archives of Sri Lanka and the National Archives of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

3. MoU on Training and Professional Development of Teachers and School Leaders between the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development of the Maldives and the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath.

4. MoU on Sports and Youth Development Cooperation between the Republic of Maldives and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka was exchanged by Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Iruthisham Adam and Sri Lanka’s Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

5. MoU on Defence Cooperation between the National Counter Terrorism Centre of the Maldives and the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retired).

6. MoU between the Ministry of Defence and National Service of the Maldives and General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University of Sri Lanka was exchanged by the Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara.

7. MoU on Academic Cooperation between the University of Colombo of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare of the Maldives was exchanged by Maldives High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Masood Imad and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Professor Indika Mahesh Karunathilake.

The state visit of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, undertaken at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, aims to further strengthen economic, cultural and social ties between the two countries, while enhancing their multifaceted partnership.

Cabinet Ministers, government officials and members of the Maldivian delegation, representing both Sri Lanka and the Maldives, were present at the occasion.

[President’s Media Division]