The signing ceremony of the Exchange of Notes between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Government of Japan and the Amendment Agreements between Sri Lanka and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the debt restructuring process was held at the Ministry of Finance premises this afternoon (March 07).
The Exchange of Notes was signed by Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development Mahinda Siriwardana on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata on behalf of the Government of Japan.
A further bilateral Amendment Agreement was signed by Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka and Tetsuya Yamada, Chief Representative on behalf of JICA.
Issuing a statement following the ceremony, Sri Lanka’s Department of External Resources said that the signing of the bilateral Amendment Agreement with the JICA and the Exchange of Notes with the Government of Japan in relation to the External Debt Restructuring Process, is a significant milestone of the External Debt Restructuring Process and testament to Sri Lanka’s commitment to conclude the restructuring process as soon as possible to restore debt sustainability and thereby revamp Sri Lanka’s economy.
“The Government of Japan has played a pivotal role in spearheading Sri Lanka’s External Debt Restructuring Process, co-chairing the Official Creditor Committee alongside France and India. Its leadership, commitment, and constructive engagement have been instrumental in helping Sri Lanka navigate the challenges of economic recovery. This spirit of cooperation has enabled the Government of Sri Lanka to make meaningful progress toward restoring debt sustainability”, the statement added.
Furthermore, the External Resources Department noted that the conclusion of the Exchange of Notes and signing of the Amendment Agreement will certainly pave the way to developing further the deep and long standing bilateral relationships between the Government of Japan and the Government of Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Tehran, Iran has been relocated amid the prevailing situation, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the Parliament today (June 17).
Embassy officials have also been moved due to the situation. In addition to embassy staff, eight Sri Lankan students who had been at the Embassy in Tehran have also been relocated to the northern part of Iran due to security concerns.
However, all contact numbers remain operational, the minister added.
Herath said that approximately 35 Sri Lankans remain in Iran, with those residing in Tehran currently facing heightened risks. He also pointed out that nearly 20,000 Sri Lankans are presently in Israel.
Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa has assured that there is no risk of an impending fuel shortage in the country due to the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
Speaking during the Cabinet briefing earlier today (June 17), he assured that Sri Lanka currently has adequate fuel reserves to meet national demand for at least two and a half months and and that necessary arrangements have been made to procure upcoming fuel shipments without any issues.
He urged the public not to be misled by such claims on social media.
In line with the vision to build a transparent and corruption-free public service, the Secretary General of Parliament has taken steps to establish an “Internal Affairs Unit” in Parliament in accordance with the circular PS/SB/Circular/2/2025 issued by the Presidential Secretariat on 18 February 2025.
The newly established unit aims to achieve several key objectives, including the prevention of corruption, promotion of a culture of integrity, ensuring accountability and transparency in all institutional operations, and guaranteeing public access to information related to parliamentary activities and decisions. Additionally, the unit will work to promote ethical governance, encourage reporting of misconduct, protect whistleblowers through secure and accessible mechanisms, and assist law enforcement agencies and the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption in enforcing relevant laws.
Mr. Chaminda Kularatne, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament, has been appointed as the Head of the Internal Affairs Unit, while Mr. W.K.D.C. Vithana has been designated as the Integrity Officer. All department heads of Parliament will serve as members of the unit, supported by a dedicated team representing all departments.
The unit held its inaugural meeting on June 6, 2025, under the leadership of Mr. Kularatne. The meeting focused on discussing the implementation procedures in accordance with the directives outlined in the circular.