Japan, Sri Lanka Agree to Boost Maritime Security Cooperation

August 22, 2018

Sri Lanka- Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and Sri Lankan State Minister of Defense Ruwan Wijewardene have confirmed that their countries will promote cooperation in the field of maritime security.

During talks in the South Asian country on Tuesday, Onodera told Wijewardene that Japan wants to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific strategy, proposed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The Japanese government hopes to strengthen relations with Sri Lanka, which is located in a strategic point of a sea lane.

Onodera, who was on a five-day visit to India and Sri Lanka from Sunday, also held talks with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena. Jiji Press