In a significant diplomatic encounter, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa paid a courtesy call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo just a short while ago. The President’s Media Division (PMD) confirmed the meeting, underscoring its importance in fostering bilateral relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. Minister Hayashi’s official visit to Sri Lanka commenced on Friday night (28 July) and is slated to span two days. During this visit, he is set to engage in crucial talks with President Wickremesinghe, as well as with Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and his Sri Lankan counterpart, Ali Sabry, with a focus on bolstering bilateral ties. Accompanying the Japanese Foreign Minister on this momentous occasion are esteemed officials from the Japanese Foreign Ministry. The delegation includes Murakami Manabu, the Senior Foreign Policy Coordinator; Arima Yutaka, the Director General of Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs; Endo Kazuya, the Director General of International Cooperation; and Okano Yukiko, the Deputy Press Secretary. Alongside them are 22 other officials representing various departments within the Japanese Foreign Ministry. This diplomatic meeting between Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and President Ranil Wickremesinghe holds the promise of further enhancing cooperation and understanding between Japan and Sri Lanka, forging a path towards mutual prosperity and regional stability.