(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) –Hon. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena hosted a farewell luncheon for H.E Akira Sugiyama, outgoing Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka at the Parliament premises yesterday (25).
Minister of Plantation, the President of Sri Lanka – Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Deputy Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Katzuki Kotaro, Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dassanayake were also present at the occasion.
Hon. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena extended his gratitude for the contribution made by Ambassador Sugiyama during his tenure in strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. He also thanked the Government and the people of Japan for extending steadfast support to Sri Lanka at its all-difficult times.
Reiterating the long friendship of the two countries, Dr. Pathirana appreciated the Japan Government for extending its assistance, particularly during the outbreak of COVID-19 third wave in Sri Lanka by providing the AstraZeneca vaccines to successfully mitigate the situation.
Akira Sugiyama, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka thanked the Speaker and the Parliament for their assistance during his tenure. He also said it was a pleasure to work in a beautiful country like Sri Lanka. He mentioned that next year marks the 70th anniversary of Sri Lanka-Japan diplomatic relations.