Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa has requested Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to assist Sri Lanka with technology transfer to improve the island’s fisheries industry and fledgling Information Technology (IT) industry.

Making the request during a meeting between the duo in Colombo yesterday (29), the Opposition Leader also expressed his gratitude for the longstanding friendly diplomatic relationship between Japan and Sri Lanka.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Japanese Government for the generous assistance provided by Japan to Sri Lanka and its people under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) loan assistance schemes and for the valuable national resources received from Japan, including the Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital, National Television Corporation, etc. 

Furthermore, the Opposition Leader expressed regret over the controversy caused by the suspension of the Light Rail Transit Project due to narrow political decisions, while requesting Japan to re-implement the project under his government.

The SJB Leader requested the Japanese Foreign Minister to provide the necessary Japanese technology to develop the fishing industry, the contribution of which is currently as small as 1.4% of the country’s gross national product. 

Premadasa also requested the Japanese FM to assist in providing necessary technical facilities to talented children of villages to upskill the field of IT, enabling them to advance in the world of technology and be more employable.