The Sri Lankan Ambassador on Friday said the relationship between the two countries will be further strengthened through cooperation in information technology.
Visiting The Japan Times, Neville Piyadigama said the Sri Lankan government expects to receivePiyadigamapart of the $15 billion IT fund and scholarships for developing countries that was promised by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori during July's Group of Eight summit in Okinawa.
Having assumed the post in February, Piyadigama said he is working hard to prepare for celebrations to observe the 50th anniversary in 2002 of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
He said commemorative events such as cultural exhibitions may be held in both countries during that year, adding that details have yet to be determined.
He also hopes to establish "something permanent" to mark the anniversary, citing an IT-related institute as an example.
The ambassador said that although Japan has invested substantially in various fields in Sri Lanka and has sent volunteer workers to the country, he hopes that the future will see a marked increase in Japanese tourists to the South Asian country.