I am honoured and privileged to assume office on 24th March 2011 as the 17th Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Japan. I take this opportunity to thank most sincerely His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan, the Government of Japan, and the people of Japan for the long enjoyed bilateral relations between Japan and Sri Lanka, for always standing by Sri Lanka when in need and for the assistance given in development work on many areas in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka - Japan relations have excelled over the years and I intend strengthening this relationship further by way of promoting more Japanese tourists to visit Sri Lanka, increasing the export of Sri Lankan products to Japan, increasing Japanese investment in Sri Lanka, and also by promoting more religious and cultural exchange programmes. I especially wish to take this opportunity to place on record my sincere heartfelt condolences to the victims of the Tohoku Earthquake and to assure the Government of Japan the fullest cooperation of the Government of Sri Lanka in Japan’s resurgence. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to the Sri Lankan expatriate community and the student community in Japan, not forgetting the staff of the Embassy who have committed themselves in different capacities, in turn, strengthening the bilateral ties between our two countries. 2-1-54, Takawa, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0074 Japan