Japan will play a positive role in post conflict rehabilitation - Akashi

Visiting Japanese Special Peace Envoy Yashushi Akashi said: 'Even if some of the donors have doubts and hesitations, Japan is totally committed to be on your side at the time of difficulty and challenge'.

Ambassador Akashi was speaking to the media following a meeting with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relation and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) yesterday. The Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Kiyoshi Araki accompanied Ambassador Akashi while Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona and Director General/Public Communications Ravinatha Aryasinha were associated with the Minister.

Ambassador Akashi said, "We are happy and proud to play our modest role in this country as the largest donor country and as an active member of the Co-chairs". He mentioned Japan will endeavor to play a positive role in this post conflict rehabilitation phase, particularly in the Eastern part of the country.

Ambassador Akashi said "In our bilateral relations we had most cordial relationship and we are totally satisfied with the fruitful results so far. Japan remembers very fondly the generous attitude taken by Sri Lanka at the time of San Francisco Peace Conference which brought back Japan's independence after the Second World War".

Earlier, addressing the media, Minister Bogollagama said he greatly appreciated the visit of Ambassador Akashi who has been associated with the peace process of Sri Lanka for a period of time. As a co- chair of the Peace Process the contribution extended by the Japanese Government to Sri Lanka's efforts in obtaining sustainable peace was deeply appreciated and it had helped strengthen that mission.

The Minister appreciated the understanding Japan has always shown of the difficulties that had been experienced in Sri Lanka. He said Sri Lanka had a two pronged approach in terms of direction for peace. One is to seek sustainable peace for the people of Sri Lanka. The other is to meet the challenge of terrorism.

Sri Lanka was seeking to address both these challenges at the same time.

Sri Lanka had brought in the All Parties Representative Committee to address political process that could ultimately establish sustainable peace, the political devolution and the reforms that are needed.