He has heard a Sinhalese saying ‘Japana hapana’ – (the Japanese are clever) and he has brought the highest trade delegation with him to prove this, said visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while addressing the Sri Lanka-Japan trade forum held this evening (07 September).

A high trade delegation has accompanied him to Sri Lanka and that he believes Sri Lanka would receive their contributions, Mr. Abe said while requesting the Sri Lankan business community to gain the maximum advantage from them.

While visiting the Sri Jayewardene Kotte city, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reminded of former President J.R. Jeyewardene’s appeal on behalf of Japan in 1951 as the then Finance Minister of Ceylon at the San Francisco Conference following World War II to consider Japan as a member of the international community and assisted his country.

He also said that he went to view the Parliament building designed by the great Sri Lankan architect Jeffry Bawa with Japanese assistance.