'Japan will stand by Sri Lanka in restoring peace' -Akashi

[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 September 2003, 14:16 GMT]
Japan will stand by Sri Lanka to restore peace in gratitude to what Sri Lanka had done for Japan during the second world war, said the Japanese special peace envoy, Mr.Yasushi Akashi, addressing journalists at Kalmunai in the eastern province Saturday, media sources said.

Japan hopes that the stalled peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam would resume shortly, said Mr. Akashi at the conclusion of the talks with the Tamil and Muslim delegations at Kalmunai Methodist Church hall.

“Peace is a close friend of mankind but war an enemy. Donor countries will set up a mechanism to oversee the proper utilization of the funds pledged at the Tokyo aid conference held in June,” Mr. Akashi said.

He said that all Sri Lankans should commit themselves to be of guardians of peace in the country, and the international community has come forward to rebuild war-ravaged Sri Lanka and rehabilitate its economy.

Mr. Akashi said that several parliamentarians briefed him earlier. "Now I am able to see the situation personally. Three communities are iving in the district. Lots of development work have to be done in the district. I was told some incidents have taken place in the district recently. At a time when the peace process is being taken forward, such incidents should not happen."