Japan assists conflict affected in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Responding to an appeal from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Government of Japan decided to provide 10,000 sleeping mats, 10,000 water containers, and 4,000 plastic sheets based on the International Peace Cooperation Law.

This assistance will be used for humanitarian relief activities in Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka. The Government of Japan has nominated Yasushi Akashi, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations as Representative of Japan for peace building, rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka, and has been providing active support for the peace process in Sri Lanka.

The Government of Japan expects that this assistance for the affected people in Sri Lanka will improve their living conditions and contribute to create an environment for peace through dialogue.

Following the Cabinet meeting a ceremony was held yesterday to hand over the materials to UNHCR at a stockpile base where the humanitarian relief supply goods of Japan are being kept in the Emirates of Sharjah and United Arab Emirates.

The ceremony was attended by the UNHCR officials, Japanese Government officials including Takuma Hatano, Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and those from the Cabinet office and M.N. Junaid, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the United Arab Emirates.

These humanitarian aid will be delivered to Sri Lanka and distributed among the afflicted people by the UNHCR in cooperation with the Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry of Sri Lanka.