Japanese special envoy, Yashushi Akashi says appreciable measures had already been taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration to speed up the resettlement process for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North.

He said so after visiting several welfare camps for IDPs in Vavuniya, yesterday (9).

Akashi pledged Japan's fullest support to Sri Lanka to expedite the resettlement process. He assured that other nations too would follow suit to help Sri Lanka.

He was pleased about the 180day program to resettle the displaced, and noted that Japan would be a role player in assisting the de-mining process in the North to ensure civilians’ safety. “That will encourage the return of civilians to their former places of residence” said Akashi.