Japan's peace envoy satisfied with Sri Lanka's progress in reconciliation, calls for wider political solution

Yasushi Akashi, the representative of the Government of Japan for Peace-Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka has expressed his satisfaction with the measures Sri Lankan government has taken to establish peace, post-conflict development and reconciliation. During a meeting with the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning at the Temple Trees, Akashi, who concluded his five-day visit to Sri Lanka, has commended the government for achieving a significant progress in resettling the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Akashi has noted the significant progress in the development projects in the conflict-affected North and East and the measures taken by the government to implement the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
The special envoy, who toured the North during his visit and met representatives of other political parties, has informed the President of their views and called for a wider political solution for Sri Lanka's national problem. Akashi, has also asked the Tamil community to show patience and reach a solution through negotiations. He has said that only three years has passed since the end of the 30-year long conflict. Expressing confidence that Sri Lankan government will be able to find a political solution through negotiations to establish peace and harmony, the Japanese envoy has called the government to demonstrate a visible outcome to the international community on achieving the goals of reconciliation with other communities. "I reiterated the importance to take effective measures and demonstrate visible outcomes to the international community," Akashi has told the media. He has also reiterated Japan's assistance to Sri Lanka to achieve its reconciliation goals as well as development and to restore its relations with international community.