Leader of the Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team, Iwase Kiichiro, paid a courtesy call on senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism yesterday (15).
The meeting was held with Director General of the East Asia and Oceania Division, Savitri Panabokke, and Head of the Emergency Response Unit as well as Director General of the Public Diplomacy and International Security Cooperation Divisions, Thushara Rodrigo. Representatives of the JDR Medical Team, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and officials from the Embassy of Japan in Sri Lanka were also present.
During the discussion, Director General Panabokke expressed appreciation for the swift response of the Government of Japan in deploying a 31-member Disaster Relief Medical Team to Sri Lanka to provide essential medical services following Cyclone Ditwah. She conveyed Sri Lanka’s gratitude for Japan’s continued solidarity and support during the post-disaster period.
JDR Medical Team Leader Iwase Kiichiro thanked the Ministry for the assistance extended throughout the team’s deployment, noting that the cooperation reflected the strong bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Japan.
Meanwhile, Director General Thushara Rodrigo requested JICA to consider extending technical assistance to key institutions, including the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Department of Meteorology, particularly in the area of early warning systems.
The JDR Medical Team also presented a summary report on its medical operations carried out in Sri Lanka. The team is scheduled to return to Japan on 16 December 2025, following the successful completion of its medical mission in Chilaw.
