Japan ties boost: Rajapaksa greets new PM Yoshihide Suga

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has congratulated Yoshihide Suga, who became Japan’s first new prime minister in nearly eight years on Wednesday.

Rajapaksa said in a Twitter message that he looked forward to working together “with you to enhance our already existing ties & I wish you the best, on behalf of all #SriLankans for your tenure.”

“I congratulate Hon. @sugawitter on been elected #PrimeMinister of #Japan with a landslide victory at the recently held elections,” the Sri Lankan leader added on Twitter.

Suga, 71, has said he would stick with his former boss’ “Abenomics” growth policies while pushing reforms including deregulation, digitalization and smashing of bureaucratic barriers.

In a Twitter post on Aug. 30, Rajapaksa said: “I wish my dear friend @AbeShinzo the best of luck & I pray for your good health as you resign from your position as #Japan’s longest serving #PM due to a medical condition. Your friendship towards #lka steered the relationship between our nations to be stronger than ever before.”