By President Wickremesinghe is scheduled to attend the official funeral of onetime Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe
The president makes his visit to Japan at a moment when Japan holds about thirty percent of the country’s loans.
It is certain that this visit goes much beyond offering condolence to the Japanese.
The president is to leave on n August 27 and then spend three days in discussions with the Japanese on the economic recovery process.
Japan has not been very vocal or specific on the loan restructuring process
Foreign Minister Ali Sabry will fly in from Japan and New York after attending the UN General Assembly sessions.
President Wickremesinghe is challenged with the task of obtaining a commitment from the Japanese for a billion dollars as bridging finance.
Meanwhile, minister Nimal Siripala Desilva who was recently cleared from bribery chargers told parliament that said that he had received a letter from JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)
‘ They handed over a letter. It stated that since the Japanese government has declared that Sri Lanka is bankrupt and cannot pay back its loans, they have decided to suspend 12 projects including this Taisei project that are being funded by Japan until the IMF drafts a roadmap for Sri Lanka.’
President Wickramasingha may have to resolve matters on how to get these projects on track soon as possible.
The allegations made by Japanese Ambassador Mizukoshi Hideaki to ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and the subsequent ‘clearance’ of Nimal Siripala de Silva have offended the Japanese and may come up in discussions, said political commentators.
