Wed, 2012-09-19 00:38 — editor
Tokyo, 19 September, (Asiantribune.com):
Admiral
Katsutoshi Kawano, Chief of Staff of the Maritime Self Defence Force of Japan
handing over a memento to Admiral[Rtd.] Wasantha Karannagoda, Ambassador of Sri
Lanka to Japan
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan, Admiral (Rtd.) Wasantha Karannagoda,
called on the Chief of Staff of the Maritime Self Defence Force of the Ministry
of Defence of Japan Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, at the Ministry of Defence.
Admiral Kawano is the highest ranking Navy official of the Maritime Self
Defence Force, which is equivalent to the Navy of Japan.
The two dignitaries discussed and broached issues of importance,
relevance and interest with regard to maritime issues of the two countries as
well as of the region, among others.
Admiral Kawano, after welcoming Ambassador Admiral Karannagoda, stated
that the Maritime Self Defence Force wishes to have greater cooperation and
interaction with the Navy of Sri Lanka, in particular.
In this context, Ambassador Admiral Karannagoda complimented Admiral
Kawano since three Japanese vessels, with over 750 persons from the Training
Squadron of the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, would be calling on Sri
Lanka from 15th to 19th of September 2012.
Admiral Kawano has been invited to grace this occasion in Sri Lanka by
the Government of Sri Lanka but due to prior commitments, he stated that he
would not be able to be present in Sri Lanka at this time. However, he did
state that in the near future he would visit Sri Lanka.
The two dignitaries focused primarily on the vitality of the sea lanes,
particularly, on the southernmost part of Sri Lanka and the importance to have
stability and security, mostly from pirates.
Ambassador Admiral Karannagoda expounded the economic and navigational
utility of the two deep sea water harbours of Sri Lanka i.e. Ports of
Hambantota and Trincomalee. Both of them agreed that since Japan and Sri Lanka
are island nations, enhancing and intensifying the respective Navies are
indispensable not only to ensure the stability but to advance commercial and
economic interests as well.
Ambassador Admiral Karannagoda expressed his gratitude to Admiral Kawano
for considering due assistance and cooperation to be extended to the Coast
Guard of Sri Lanka, since it is still in the nascent stage. Just over a month
ago, the Director General of the Coast Guard of Sri Lanka was invited by the
Government of Japan to explore and delve the most effective courses of action
to upgrade and to train personnel of the Coast Guard of Sri Lanka.
Given the dynamic geo-political and geo-economic environment of Sri
Lanka, let alone her strategic location in the Indian Ocean connecting the East
and the West, Admiral Kawano, the Chief of Staff of Maritime Self Defence Force
assured Ambassador Admiral Karannagoda that Japan would further increase her
engagement & collaboration with and assistance to the Navy of Sri Lanka.
This would enable to create a navigational synergy in the region, which in
turn, would benefit the sphere of maritime not only to Japan and Sri Lanka but
to the entire region.
In the concluding the remarks, Ambassador invited, again, Admiral Kawano
to visit Sri Lanka as a Guest of the Government of Sri Lanka since this year
marks the 60th year Anniversary of the establishment of the Diplomatic
Relations as well as, coincidentally, the 60th year Anniversary of the
formation of the Maritime Self Defence Force of Japan. Ambassador Admiral
Karannagoda was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of
Sri Lanka in Japan.
- Asian Tribune -
