Japan pledges to eradicate terrorism

Japanese PM assures fullest support to President:

Dinesh Weerawansa in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Yasao Fukuda said Japan would always reject terrorism and his Government would take every possible step to stop terror acts.

He made these observations when he met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Monday night.

Addressing a joint news conference at the Prime Minister's Office, the 71-year-old Japanese leader said his Government condemns all forms of terrorism and would take every possible action to eradicate terrorism.

He expressed confidence in Sri Lanka's efforts to achieve peace and assured the Japanese Government's fullest support and cooperation to President Rajapaksa's peace efforts.

"I conveyed to the President, Japan's intention to cooperate for peace in Sri Lanka as well as economic development," Fukuda told the media.

The Japanese Government increased assistance to Sri Lanka under the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) programme from US$ 320 to $ 400 million per year.

Prime Minister Fukuda is no stranger to Sri Lanka as he was the former President of the Japan-Sri Lanka Friendship Association. He held that position for several years before stepping down on his election as Japan's Prime Minister last September.

He recalled the close socio-cultural relations between the two countries and disclosed Japan's plans to open a new chapter in cultural and social programmes from next year.

Japan will grant economic assistance of Yen 1,900 million in grants-in-aid to Sri Lanka.

In his address at the joint news conference, President Rajapaksa said Japan has always been a close friend of Sri Lanka and thanked the Japanese Government and people for their support and cooperation.

The President thanked Japan for support in the construction of electricity power plants fueled by liquified natural gas and multi-purpose development projects in eastern Sri Lanka. Japan would assist the Sri Lankan Government to set up a Specially Hospital exclusively for ETF members.

He said Japan's contribution towards Sri Lanka's socio-economic development is immense and Prime Minister Fukuda has been a close friend of Sri Lanka.

"We have not given up our efforts to find a political solution through a dialogue. The Security Forces have tried to weaken the LTTE terrorists through military engagement, trying to drive it into a situation in which it must choose dialogue. We will make every endeavour to settle it through negotiations and find a solution that is acceptable to all communities," he said.

Sri Lanka is expected to support Japan's call for reform of the United Nations and for its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa opened the final day of his four-day official visit to Japan with a breakfast meeting hosted by the President of the Japan-Sri Lanka Parliamentary League, Honsui Norota.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's address to the Upper House of the Japanese Parliament on Monday