Ambassador to Japan calls for report on whereabouts of missing Sri Lankans

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan, Professor Ganganath Dissanayake has called for a report on the whereabouts of 30 Sri Lankans, who attended a Sri Lankan Event in Japan.

The Sri Lankan festival organised by the Japan - Sri Lanka Business Council was held on June 24 and 25, 2017 at Tokyo's Yoyogi Gardens.

It is reported that 30 out of a group of 33 Sri Lankans that attended this event did not return to Sri Lanka upon the conclusion of the event.

Answering a query, Prof. Ganganath Dissanayake, the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Japan, told News 1st that the Embassy cannot say if people who come for various events, return, and that they have no way to prove who did and who did not.

He further stated that it is beyond their powers and that the Japanese Embassy issues visa, so it is out of the Ambassador's jurisdiction. Therefore the immigration has to check on the particular issue, he pointed out.

It was further been revealed that the Ambassador to Japan has issued letters in support of the attendees of the 'Sri Lanka Festival' in Japan.

Ambassador Prof. Dissanayake explained that when businessmen pay and reserve their stalls, the Sri Lanka Business Association sends the embassy a notification and they then write to confirm that there is such an event taking place. The final decision on whether visas are issued to these people lies with the respective embassies, he pointed out. 

Professor Dissanayake has also taken part in this Sri Lanka Festival.

He informed News 1st that The Sri Lanka Festival, organised by the Business Association in Japan, is currently taking place under the full patronage of the Sri Lankan Embassy.

When we spoke to the Prime Minister's Additional Secretary Saman Athaudahetti to get a statement on the matter, he said a response will be given once a written request is handed in.