Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who will deliver a special lecture at the inaugural ceremony of Japan Science and Technology Association's annual sessions in Kyoto will later proceed to Tokyo where he is expected to address the Japanese Diet (Parliament).  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is the honorary President of the Japanese Science and Technology Association.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe will have high level bilateral talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and several other members of the Japanese Cabinet. Special attention would be drawn towards economic, trade, investment relations between the two countries and science and cultural fields during these talks.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe who is accompanied by Mrs Maithree Wickremesinghe is also due to call on the Emperor and Empress of Japan during the visit.

A press release by the Prime Minister's office said several former Japanese Prime Ministers will also meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for special discussions while Prime Minister will also hold discussions with the Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentary League, Japan-Sri Lanka Business Forum and the Japan Trade Association during the tour.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's delegation will also include Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake, Science Technology and Research Minister Susil Premajayantha, Secretary to the Prime Minister Saman Ekanayake, Additional Secretary Saman Athaudahetty and special assistant Mrs Sandra Perera.