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Japan
increases support to Sri Lanka
- For
development; against terrorism
[Wednesday,
February 21, 2007 - 9.00 GMT]
Japan has pledged support for the Sri Lankan Government’s
efforts to defeat terrorism in all its manifestations and the
development policies of the Government.
This
pledge was made by Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, when he announced
the 38th Yen Loan Package to Sri Lanka amounting to Yen 39.2
billion ( Rs. 40 billion approx) at a meeting with the President’s
Senior Advisor, Mr. Basil Rajapaksa at Tokyo yesterday ( February 20).
There has been a significant increase in the
Japanese Government’s annual loan package to Sri Lanka from 33 billion
to 39.2 billion Japanese Yen this year. This is seen as an expression of
confidence in the Sri Lanka Government’s development strategy announced
in the new 10-Year Development Framework of the Government.
Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso announced the 38th Yen loan package
amounting to 39.2 billion Japanese Yen (around Rs. 40 billion) offered
by the Japanese government to Sri Lanka during his meeting with
President’s Senior Advisor Basil Rajapaksa on Monday in Tokyo. Rajapaksa
is on a visit to Japan on the Japanese Government’s invitation. Aso
observed that Japan is pleased to announce a significant increase in the
Japanese Government’s annual loan package from 33 billion Japanese yen
to 39.2 billion Japanese Yen, as an expression of Japan’s confidence
reposed in Sri Lanka government’s development strategy as elaborated in
the “Mahinda Chinthana”: Vision for a New Sri Lanka - 10-Year Horizon
Development Framework 2006-2016.”, states a Media Release by the Sri
Lanka Embassy in Tokyo.
The three projects to be financed under the 38th Yen loan package
comprise the Greater Colombo Urban Transport Development Project
(Construction of Outer Circular Highway to the City of Colombo -
Construction of the Road Section from Kottawa to Kadawatha including
development of three townships); Water and Sanitation Sector Development
Project - Phase 1; and Pro-poor Rural Development Project - SIRUP type
(covering Hambantota, Badulla and Moneragala).
The Japanese Foreign Minister also said the Japanese Government would be
extending non-project grant aid to Sri Lanka amounting to Japanese Yen
1.2 billion for 2007.
Minister Aso pledged Japan’s support for the Sri Lankan Government’s
efforts to defeat terrorism in all its manifestations, while emphasizing
the need to seek a negotiated solution to the ethnic conflict to achieve
a durable peace.
Rajapaksa briefed Aso on the current status of the peace process
including the multi-party and multi-ethnic initiatives launched by the
Sri Lankan Government within the framework of the All Party Conference
and the Committee of Experts to develop a framework for constitutional
reform, incorporating a political solution to the conflict that would be
acceptable to all communities in Sri Lanka.
Rajapaksa also apprised the Foreign Minister of the measures adopted by
the government to counter atrocities by the LTTE in the North and East
and to safeguard the civilians in these areas, including measures
adopted by the government for the speedy resettlement of internally
displaced people.
He reiterated the commitment of the Sri Lanka Government to uphold
democracy, human rights and the rule of law in keeping with
international norms and mechanisms, while simultaneously making every
effort to defeat terrorism.
Rajapaksa expressed the Sri Lanka Government’s appreciation of the role
played by Japan as a co-chair in Sri Lanka peace process, as well as the
support extended by Japan towards international initiatives launched to
curb the LTTE’s clandestine financing and arms procurement activities
conducted overseas.
Rajapaksa renewed the invitation extended by former Foreign Minister in
May 2006 to Foreign Minister Aso to visit Sri Lanka this year. During
his visit, Rajapaksa also met with Japan’s Senior Vice Minister for
Foreign Affairs Katsuhito Asano; Japan’s Representative on Peace
Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi;
member of the House of Representatives, President of the Japan-Sri Lanka
Association and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda; Member of
the House of Representatives and Chairman of the Japan-Sri Lanka
Parliamentary Friendship League Housei Norota; Assistant Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hiroyasu Ando; and Member of the International Independent
Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) Prof. Yozo Yokota.
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Japan Ranjith Uyangoda, Director/Japan of the
Ministry of Finance M.P.D.U.K. Mapa Pathirana and officials of the Sri
Lanka Embassy were associated with the meetings.
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Last Updated
Date: February 21, 2007 -9.00 GMT |
