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Thursday, February 11, 2010 - 8.33 GMT |
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Japan and
Australia congratulate President |
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The
Prime
Minister
of
Japan,
Yukio
Hatoyama
has
congratulated
President
Mahinda
Rajapaksa
on his
re-election
and on
the
occasion
of the
Independence
Day on
Feb 04,
2010.
The
Prime
Minister
states
in his
message,
"we have
seen
steady
progress
in your
traditionally
friendly
relations
during
your
Excellency's
first
term in
office.
I hope
that
these
cordial
relations
will be
further
strengthened
in the
years to
come".
It is my
sincere
hope
that
your
government
will
continue
to work
to
facilitate
national
reconciliation
and
resettlement
of
Internally
Displaced
Persons
under
your
leadership.
The
Government
of Japan
will
support
the
further
efforts
for
socio-economic
development
and
lasting
peace in
Sri
Lanka,
Prime
Minister
further
states.
The
Representative
of the
Government
of Japan
on
Peace-
Building,
Rehabilitation
and
Reconstruction
in Sri
Lanka,
Yasushi
Akashi
also
sent a
congratulatory
message
stating,
"I look
forward
to your
more
achievements
in your
second
term for
the
consolidation
of
peace,
for
greater
ethnic
harmony,
and for
more
prosperity
for all
Sri
Lankan
people."
The
Governor
General
of the
Commonwealth
of
Australia,
Quentin
Bryce AC
states
in her
message
of
felicitation,
"as the
first
time in
over two
decades
that
voting
could
take
place in
all
parts of
Sri
Lanka,
the
Presidential
election
was an
important
opportunity
for all
citizens
to have
a stake
in their
country's
future".
The end
of the
military
conflict
in Sri
Lanka
has
brought
great
relief
to your
country.
I am
aware
that you
have
expressed
a
commitment
to
implementing
a
sustainable
political
solution
to
ensure
the
gains of
peace
are
lasting.
I
encourage
you to
see this
process
through,
taking
into
account
the
legitimate
aspirations
of all
your
citizens,
she
further
states.
The
Governor
General
points
out that
she
recognize
and
acknowledge
the
profound
sufferings
of the
Sri
Lankan
people
as a
consequence
of
decades
of
conflict.
"In this
regard,
Australia
will
continue
to
respond
to the
humanitarian
challenges
facing
Sri
Lanka,
especially
the
needs of
internally
displaced
people
and
their
re-settlement",
she
stressed.
Australia
and Sri
Lanka
share
strong
bilateral
relations,
built on
our
shared
history
of
migration,
as well
as links
in trade
and
investment,
education,
sport,
culture
and
development
co-operation,
she
continues.
Our two
countries
also
enjoy
close
co-operation
in areas
of
mutual
interest,
such as
counter-terrorism
and
people
smuggling,
and a
shared
recognition
of the
importance
of
multilateral
approaches
to
furthering
our
international
objectives
and
interests,
she
states.
The
people
to
people
links
between
Australia
and Sri
Lanka
are
strong
with
around
100,000
persons
of Sri
Lankan
extraction
now
living
in
Australia,
contributing
to all
aspects
of our
society.
In
addition
to this,
increasing
numbers
of Sri
Lankan
students
have
chosen
to
undertake
their
tertiary
studies
in
Australia,
she
points
out.
"Permit
me to
use this
opportunity
to
re-confirm
Australia's
desire
to work
with Sri
Lanka to
help
address
the
serious
challenges
facing
today's
world,
including
international
development,
climate
change
and
organised
transnational
crime.
Such
issues
require
global
solutions
and
Australia
is
firmly
committed
to
supporting
and
enhancing
the
vital
role of
multilateral
institutions,
including
the
United
Nations,
in
meeting
these
challenges",
Governor
General
Bryce
further
stated.
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