Japanese special envoy Yashushi Akashi arrived here yesterday morning.

He was welcomed by Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Kunio Takahashi at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Akashi is in the country to take part in the Sri Lanka Economic Summit scheduled to begin today at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo.

The Sri Lanka Economic Summit organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC) is to be held till July 2 under the theme, "Dawning of a new era … Opportunities and Challenges." The technical sessions, being held from July 1- 2 mark the 10th anniversary of this forum.

Akashi, an alumnus of the University of Tokyo and Fulbright scholar at the University of Virginia will be the keynote speaker at the summit.