The Minister of Defence of Japan, Hon Itsunori Onodera who is on a two day official visit to Sir Lanka arrived in the Island yesterday. The Minister was warmly received by the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne and the Ambassador of Japan in Sir Lanka, H. E. Kenichi Suganuma at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Hon. Itsunori Onodera marks the first ever visit to Sir Lanka by a Defence Minister of Japan and due to attend a Dialogue on defence related matters with the defence hierarchy in Sir Lanka. He is also to call on HE the President and Hon Priminister during his visit.
Hon. Itsunori Onodera has been graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1983 and elected as a member of the House of Representatives in 1997 beginning his political career. He has been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for foreign affairs in 2004 and has held many senior government positions until he has been appointed as the Minister of Defence in 2017.
