The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka has consolidated its relationship with Japanese city Hashima ©NOCSL

The National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) has consolidated its relationship with Japanese city Hashima by signing a memorandum of understanding.

Plans were already in place for Sri Lankan athletes to train in Hashima before next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Under the new deal, both parties will work together not only before the Games in Japan's capital, but after as well, with a particular emphasis on taekwondo training.

The NOCSL described the arrangement as a "multifaceted agreement" with "many features".

"It will help Sri Lankan athletes who are due to perform at Tokyo 2020 and install certain programmes looking beyond the Games," the organisation said.

The deal is seen as a boost to Sri Lankan Olympic athletes ©Getty Images
The deal is seen as a boost to Sri Lankan Olympic athletes ©Getty Images

NOCSL secretary general Maxwell de Silva was among a delegation which visited Hashima, a city in Gifu Prefecture that has a population of 70,000.

"The conclusion was that we both would work even after the conclusion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games which will be held next year," he said.

"The sport that we are currently looking at is taekwondo, as the City of Hashima is well equipped to provide assistance in this discipline. 

"Besides, there is a top ranking businessman in the city who is interested in assisting us with this programme. 

"He is a big time supporter of taekwondo there." 

A delegation from Hashima visited Sri Lanka in July.