Akashi assures Japanese help for SL's development

Japan will be a continuous partner in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the former conflict zone and the economic development of the whole of Sri Lanka, special representative of the Japanese government Yasushi Akashi said.

"Even while Japan may face tough economic conditions at home our development assistance to Sri Lanka will not be curtailed," he told External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris during bilateral discussions.

Having thanked Akashi for attending the opening ceremony of the Southern Expressway which was built with financial assistance from the Japanese government, Prof. Peiris briefed Akashi on the developments in Sri Lanka, particularly on the reconciliation process under way. The minister informed that the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) report has been handed over to the President and that it would be tabled in Parliament in the near future.

The minister spoke of the post-conflict development process underway with emphasis on reconciliation and political empowerment of all communities.

The economic development that is happening in the North and the East, the resettlement of nearly 300,000 displaced persons and normalisation of their livelihoods, holding of local government elections and the emergence of political enthusiasm in the former conflict zone, restoration of the civil administration and the trilingual policy of the Government are also part of the reconciliation process and needs due consideration. Prof. Peiris informed that Sri Lanka deserves to be given the appropriate time and space to mitigate the effects of prolonged conflict and implement a meaningful reconciliation process.

Akashi acknowledged the 'super human' efforts made by the Sri Lankan government to deal with the sudden influx of IDP's towards the final stages of the conflict and their eventual resettlement.