NE rehabilitation cannot be de-linked from peace process

[TamilNet, Friday, 08 November 2002, 17:41 GMT]
"Rehabilitation and reconstruction issues in Sri Lanka's northeast cannot be de-linked from the peace process," said Mr.Yasushi Akashi, Japan special envoy to Sri Lanka addressing a press conference in Colombo, Friday.

He said that Japan, the largest donor to Sri Lanka, would link its financial assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction in the northeast to further progress achieved through negotiations between Colombo and the Liberation Tigers.

Mr. Akashi said that he was very much impressed by the progress of peace talks.

However, he cautioned that much more remains to be done in the area of confidence building.

The donor community will not be prepared to finance rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka if the conflict starts again, the Japan special envoy said.