United National Party Parliamentarian Harsha De Silva has expressed positive sentiments on certain development projects launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in collaboration with the Japanese government.

Speaking to BBC Sandeshaya, Economist Harsha De Silva has said that he appreciates the President’s decision to collaborate with the Japanese government to develop the infrastructure of the country. De Silva also pointed out that Japan would be a good investment destination for Sri Lanka and that mutual trade will flourish.

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The UNP Parliamentarian maintained that this step would be a good way to pump in foreign investments which could be yar to settle the 6.5% interest rates of the Chinese debts. He added that Japan, comparatively, offers financial assistance to Sri Lanka on friendlier terms.

Harsha De Silva also refuted the claims that President Mahinda Rajapaksa was creating an uneasiness involving India, China and Japan, saying that those were baseless allegations. He said Sri Lanka and Japan had a longstanding relations on economic front and China was the "new comer" into  the equation.

“Japan did not look towards Sri Lanka because of Chinese influence”, he said.

In earlier encounters, the UNP Parliamentarian was a harsh critique of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s development projects.