“Japan ready to assists Sri Lanka to restore peace” says Japanese PM    
[Wednesday, December 12, 2007 - 5.40 GMT]  

Japan looks forward see a peaceful Sri Lanka in the near future and would always assist the Sri Lankan government to continue its development process in the country said Japanese Prime Minister Yasao Fukuda said. 

He maid these comments at a joint press conference with President Mahinda Rajapakse held at Japanese Prime Minister’s Office yesterday (December 10).

"I conveyed to the President, Japan's intention to cooperate for peace in Sri Lanka as well as economic development," Fukuda told the media.

He expressed confidence in Sri Lanka's efforts to achieve peace and assured the Japanese Government's fullest support and cooperation to President Rajapaksa's peace efforts.

He also said President Rajapaksa’s visit to Japan has strengthen the age-long friendship between Japan and Sri Lanka and his country is always committed for the consolidation of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Japanese PM thanked the people and the government of Sri Lankan for their cooperation rendered towards the Japanese business community who have invested in number of mega development projects in Sri Lanka.

In his address at the joint news conference, President Rajapaksa said Japan has always been a close friend of Sri Lanka and thanked the Japanese Government and people for their support and cooperation in the peace process and development programs in Sri Lanka.

The President also said that Sri Lanka hopes to advance technologically and appreciated the support and expertise extended by Japan. In addition Sri Lanka hopes cooperate with Japan on matters of mutual interest in the spheres of commerce and economic and social relations.

President Rajapakse reiterated his government’s long term commitment to safeguard human rights and the democracy in the country.

Japan Special Peace envoy Yashusi Akashi and Foreign Minister Rothitha Bogollagama were also present during the discussion. 

Joint communiqué by Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa

The Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda extending his good wishes to Sri Lanka, stated that it was the wish of Japan that Sri Lanka establishes peace in the near future and along with it the development of the country.

Peace and development should go hand in hand for a country to realize the full potential of its development and for this reason it was heartening that the rays of peace were descending on the country making it realize the essence of development, he said. He also expressed that he was happy to see a strong, reliable and far thinking visionary leadership in President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He further stated Japan would not hesitate to come to Sri Lanka’s continued assistance as a long standing friend of the country.  

The Japanese Prime Minister stated that already large scale development projects were seeing the light of day in Sri Lanka and Japan was happy about the cooperation between the two countries in this context.

The visit of the Sri Lankan President to Japan he felt was a step forward in strengthening the friendly ties between the two countries, he further observed.

He emphasized that Japan focused its attention on world’s natural disasters and man made ones such as terrorism and said that Japan was committed to its elimination. He was happy that on matters of world peace Sri Lanka and Japan shared the same views.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked Japan for standing steadfastly by Sri Lanka on achieving peace and the development of the country.

Sri Lanka in its turn was rejecting full-scale war but was combating terrorism and was on the look out for a peaceful settlement to the existing conflict, he said.

Sri Lanka is a country that has always safe guarded Human Rights and will remain so in the future protecting democracy and human rights unreservedly, President Rajapaksa said.

Though official diplomatic relations were first established only in 1951, Sri Lanka and Japan have always maintained close religious and cultural links, he said. Through this visit to Japan these links have been further strengthened, mentioned the President.

The President also said that Sri Lanka hopes to advance technologically and appreciated the support and expertise extended by Japan. In addition Sri Lanka hopes cooperate with Japan on matters of mutual interest in the spheres of commerce and economic and social relations.