Akashi concludes Lanka visit, leaves to India

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 September 2003, 11:22 GMT]
Japanese special peace envoy Mr.Yasushi Akashi said that the donor countries are not prepared to spend the funds pledged at the Tokyo aid conference for the reconstruction and development of the northeast province until stalled peace talks resume, media sources said.

Before leaving to India Mr. Akashi held a media briefing Monday evening in Colombo. Parties concerned must be aware that the assistance by donor countries would be closely linked with the progress in the peace process, he stressed.

Mr.Akashi said the international community is becoming impatient with the delays in resuming the stalled peace talks aiming towards permanently ending the island's two decades old war, media sources said.

Mr. Akashi earlier met with the President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge and briefed about his visit to Sri Lanka and the outcome of the talks he had with government and LTTE leaders at Colombo and Killinochchi, sources said

Mr. Akashi concluded his weeklong visit to Sri Lanka with a press briefing Monday evening, sources said.