Japanese assistance to develop Lanka's maritime security

Sri Lanka and Japan have discussed ways to strengthen defence corporation, the President’s Media Division said.

This was disclosed during the meeting between Japanese Minister of Defence Itsunori Onoderaand President Maithripala Sirisena held at the Presidential Secretariat, today (21).

This is also the first time a Japanese Defence Minister has visited the country.

During discussions, President Sirisena and Itsunori Onodera reviewed the progress of the implementation of the agreements entered during Sirisena’s recent visit to Japan, the President’s Media Division added.

As a result of the discussions held between President Maithripala Sirisena and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Japanese Government took steps to provide two patrol boats for the Sri Lankan Coast Guard at a cost of LKR 1.8 billion.

President Sirisena said that he was happy that the Japanese Defence chief will be travelling to the Hambanthota and Trincomalee ports and added that the cooperation between the two countries will be strengthened through jointly conducted programmes on coastal security.