Naveen holds series of meetings with key Japanese officials

Minister of Plantation Industries, Naveen Dissanayake attended a series of meetings during his recent four-day visit to Japan.

The Minister on the 17th had a meeting with Katsunobu Kato, Minister of Health Labour and Welfare in Japan. In his opening remarks, the minister expressed the solidarity of Sri Lanka and its people with Japan in this hour of tragedy that occurred due to recent floods in Western Japan. He also indicated the historical bond and affinity between Japan and Sri Lanka.

During this meeting, Naveen Dissanayake briefed the Minister of Health Labour and Welfare in Japan on number of progressive steps taken by his ministry to ensure the utmost quality of Ceylon Tea being exported to Japan. The minister also emphasized the importance of the Japanese consumer’s confidence which is placed on Ceylon Tea, and assured Sri Lanka’s commitment to keep this confidence intact for decades to come.

The Minister also indicated Sri Lanka’s willingness to work with Japanese Health Authorities in resolving any pending matters pertaining to the supply of highest quality teas for Japanese consumers.

In welcoming the Dissanayake, Minister of Health Labour and Welfare in Japan has stated the bigger role that the Minister could play to develop the two countries’ relations being the President of Japan-sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship League. In responding to the minister’s detailed explanation on current status of tea exports to Japan, Hon Minister of Health in Japan appreciated the steps taken by the Ministry of Plantation Industries. He also noted the ongoing dialogue between the authorities in the two countries.

Along with the Minister, this meeting was attended by the Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Japan and its officials, officials from the Ministry of Plantation Industries and delegates from the Sri Lanka Tea Exporters Association.

The minister also attended a meeting with higher officials of the Tokyo MUFG Bank to discuss the proposed loan arrangement for modernization small tea smallholders’ factories in Sri Lanka. During the discussion the minister stated the importance of the project for both countries.

The Tokyo MUFG Bank is the largest Bank in Japan and was named as the 10th top Bank in the world by ‘The Banker’ and was the only Japanese Bank to feature in the top 10.

The minister was also invited for an interaction with the Executive Committee members of the Sri Lanka Business Council in Japan. The minister and the members of Council had detailed discussions on the promotion of economic and commercial relations between the two countries.