Lanka important to Japan’s self defense: Shindo

The Minister was in the country to discuss the possibility of Sri Lanka adopting an Information Communication Technology (ICT) road map developed by Japan

A top Japanese official yesterday noted that Sri Lanka was an important factor in Japan’s self defense and security in the India Ocean. “Sri Lanka is located in an important sea lane in the Indian Ocean and therefore it is very important for Japan’s self defense,” Japanese Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Yoshitaka Shindo told the press yesterday, with the aid of a transla- tor.

Mr. Shindo noted that Sri Lanka had played an integral role in the areas of logistics, security and anti-terrorist and anti-piracy activities, by virtue of its location in the Indian Ocean.

The Minister expressed solidarity with China stating that “Japan and China had shared goals, we want to contribute to world stability and peace”, he said. The Minister was in the country to discuss the possi- bility of Sri Lanka adopting an Information Communication Technology (ICT) road map developed by Japan.