The Sri Lankan government’s decision to default on its debt in April 2022 and the subsequent events came as a profound shock, revealed the Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mizukoshi Hideaki.
“The day the Sri Lankan government announced its debt default in April 2022, and the aftermath, was as shocking to me as it was to everyone else,” Ambassador Hideaki remarked.
He emphasized Japan’s long-standing partnership with Sri Lanka, particularly in times of crisis, and viewed the 2022 economic downturn as an opportunity to reinforce this bond.
Japan played a crucial role in the formation of the Official Creditor Committee (OCC) and the finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for debt restructuring, uniting creditor nations to aid Sri Lanka.
However, Ambassador Hideaki acknowledged that debt restructuring alone was not enough. Recognizing the severe impact on the everyday lives of Sri Lankans, Japan shifted its focus to providing essential support, including fuel, food, and medicine, to the most vulnerable.
The year 2022 also marked the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Sri Lanka. Despite the economic challenges, the Ambassador saw this milestone as an opportunity to build a new partnership with the Sri Lankan government, aiming to engage the younger generation and promote national reconciliation.
He underscored that true prosperity for Sri Lanka could only be realized through national reconciliation and highlighted Japan’s efforts to facilitate this process.
“It has been an ambitious effort to see whether the international community can meaningfully contribute as facilitators in Sri Lanka’s journey toward reconciliation. While it remains unfinished and has yet to yield concrete results, I believe a peaceful and harmonious Sri Lanka would be stronger and more prosperous,” Ambassador Hideaki stated.
