PM to Akashi:

Help crush LTTE in exile

Prime Minsiter D.M. Jayaratne yesterday urged Japanese Special envoy Yasushi Akashi to rally the international community against any attempts to set up shadow LTTE governments in exile abroad.

He made this request when the Japanese special envoy called on him at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said the post war rapid development program launched in the country through unity and harmony among all communities should engage the attention of the international community.

There have been reports of attempts to set up LTTE governments in exile abroad and these countries should take strong action against such sinister attempts, the Prime Minister said.

Sri Lanka had never allowed the setting up of governments in exile against any foreign countries, he emphasized.

Prime Minister Jayaratne said there seemed to be attempts to set up such governments in exile even in countries where the LTTE had been already prosecuted.

This had raised doubts as to whether such countries had cheated Sri Lanka in some way, the Prime Minister said.

Akashi said no room should be given for setting up LTTE governments in exile in foreign lands. Japan would always keep alert against any such moves, he said.

He said Japan was pleased to see Sri Lanka entering a new path to progress after ending the war. Japan will continue its assistance program towards Sri Lanka's development program without interruption.

Akashi said world peace was very important in this century.

There should be a strong peace program in Sri Lanka too and it was evident that the Sri Lanka government was dedicated towards achieving this goal. Secretary to the Prime Minister S. Amaraskera, Japanese Ambassador Kunio Takahashi, First Secretary Japanese Embassy Takashi Oshuki, Prime Minister's Co-ordinating Secretaries Kirthi Sri Weerasinghe and Dharmaratne Herath were also present.