PM offers ‘provincial administrative role’ to LTTE

[June 9, 2003 - 10.30 GMT]  

The much awaited Tokyo Aid Conference to commit funds for the reconstruction and the development of the country, was underway today at the Akasha Prince Hotel in Tokyo with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe making the opening address.

According to BBC the Conference opened with the Prime Minister offering the LTTE a “provincial administrative role in governing the island’s North East” saying they would have responsibility for re-building the Sri Lankan economy.

The Conference to be attended by more than thirty countries and 20 multilateral agencies will be jointly opened by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Japanese Premier Jeichuro Koizumi. US deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will also attend.

The donor conference is expected to raise US Dollars 3 billion over three years. The Sri Lankan delegation to the conference includes Ministers K.N. Choksy, G.L Peiris, Rauf Hakeem, Milinda Moragoda, Treasury Secretary Charitha Ratwatte and Central Bank Governor A.S. Jayawardene.

The group is scheduled to discuss today matters based on reports submitted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) about development and reconstruction work in the North-East. The ADB and the United Nations System have prepared a ‘needs’ assessment for the north and east while the World Bank and International Monetary Fund have prepared a comprehensive document on the performance of the Sri Lankan economy as a whole.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government has taken extra security measures to protect the participating world leaders at the conference with a 24-hour security plan in operation, at the conference venue. 

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Last Updated Date: June 09, 2003  - 10.30 GMT.