May 23, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe left the island early this morning for a five-day official visit to Singapore and Japan.

The airport sources said the President left the Bandaranaike International airport at Katunayake at around 12:30 this morning on a Malaysian Airlines flight.

President Wickremesinghe was accompanied by First Lady Professor Maithree Wickremesinghe, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs Dr. RHS Samaratunga, the President’s Director of International Affairs Dinouk Colombage, and the President’s Private Secretary Sandra Perera.

During his one-day visit to Singapore, the Sri Lankan Head of State is scheduled to hold talks with Singapore’s Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and several high-ranking diplomats.

The President, during his official visit to Japan from May 24th to 27th, will hold discussions with the country’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on strengthening bilateral relations and addressing regional and international matters.

President Ranil Wickramasinghe is scheduled to address the Nikkei Forum’s 28th Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on May 25 and 26. This international conference convenes leaders to discuss political, economic, and regional issues in the Asia-Pacific region.

During his official visit, the President of Sri Lanka is also scheduled to engage with the Japan-Sri Lanka Business Cooperation Council, the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Association.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe visited Japan in September last year to participate in the funeral ceremony of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinsho Abe, and this is the second visit of the President to Japan during the current tenure.