Japan concerned about escalation of violence in NorthEast

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 April 2006, 12:42 GMT]
"The Government of Japan is seriously concerned with the recent escalation of violence in the North and East of Sri Lanka, including the claymore attack against the Navy bus on Tuesday in Thambalagamam Trincomalee..," said a press release issued by the Embassy of Japan in Colombo Wednesday.

Full text of the press release follows:

The Government of Japan is seriously concerned with the recent escalation of violence in the North and East of Sri Lanka, including the claymore attack against the Navy bus on Tuesday in Thambalagamam Trincomalee which claimed eleven lives while injuring many others. The Government of Japan condemns in its strongest terms such acts of violence.

It has been noted that the latest attacks took place no sooner than the Ambassadors of Co-chairs visited Kilinochchi on Monday and stressed the absolute importance of fulfilling commitments to stop violence, which was stated at the first round of Geneva talks on the implementation of Ceasefire Agreement.

Against the background of the latest violence, it is all the more urgent that both parties will hold the 2nd round of talks in Geneva from 19th April to uphold and strengthen the Ceasefire Agreement so as to put an end to such violence.