Japanese Special Envoy in SL for fifth time

[September 11, 2003 - 9.30 GMT]

Japanese special envoy Yasushi Akashi arrived in Colombo this morning at the start of a six-day visit. The primary purpose of this visit is to chair a follow-up meeting on the “Tokyo Donor’s Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka”.

The meeting scheduled for tomorrow September 12 will review the Tokyo Donor’s conference held in June this year. The “government priorities’ on the utilization of funds pledged by the international community in Tokyo will be the main focus of the conference at Colombo’s Hilton Hotel. The LTTE rejected the invitation of the Japanese government to attend tomorrow’s meeting.

Government spokesman Prof. Peiris said Japan’s invitation to the LTTE was “a matter of courtesy and that the LTTE’s rejection was something the Sri Lankan government expected.”

During his stay in Colombo Akashi scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Chandrika Kumaratunga. He is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, chief government negotiator G.L. Peiris, Economic Reform Minister Milinda Moragoda, Eastern Development Minister, Rauf Hakeem, and Leader of the opposition Mahinda Rajapakse, former foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and the Head of the SLMM Tryggve Tellefsen.

Yasushi Akashi will visit the Eastern and Northern provinces to meet and exchange views with various political leaders and the LTTE leadership.

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Last Updated Date: September 11, 2003  -9.30 GMT.