Japan assures to continue its aid support to Sri Lanka

Colombo, June 9 (UNI) Japan, the single largest donor partner of Sri Lanka, today stated that it was 'disheartened' by the prolonged delay in the peace process and worsening human rights situation in Sri Lanka, but assured that its aid assistance to the war-affected people would continue.

Visiting Japanese special envoy for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi said although some of the donor countries have decided to suspend their assistance to Sri Lanka, Japan would continue to use its assistance for humanitarian purposes to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

''Our help is for the victims themselves. People should not be punished for the actions of their leaders. Therefore, we feel that Japan should continue whatever it can, of course taking into account the conditions of security, rule of law and progress towards governance and democratic rule in those areas,'' Mr Akashi told reporters here today.

''Why should common people, the recipients of assistance, be punished by virtue of any commissions or omissions on the part of their leaders? This is more of an attitude and philosophy than policy,'' he said.

He said Japan adheres to certain guidelines in providing overseas assistance, but '' they were somewhat different to that of the term - conditions''.

Expressing concerns over the killing of two Red Cross workers, the 'unfortunate' eviction of hundreds of Tamils staying in budget-lodges in the capital city, kidnaps and extrajudicial killings in the country, he said, ''these are unacceptable for a civilized country like Sri Lanka''.

He said this time, he did not visit to the rebel-held Kilinochchi to meet LTTE leaders, ''partly because of intensified fighting in the north'' and partly because he wanted to promote and encourage the government's process of reaching a national consensus though the All Party Representatives Committee (APRC) on the future character of Sri Lanka.

Mr Akashi said Sri Lanka's donor co-chairs, such as the US, the EU, Japan and Norway, would meet by the end of this month to 'examine' the situation in Sri Lanka.

''Despite a lot of setbacks and disappointments, I think we can still be hopeful of a dialogue being resumed with the view to arriving at a political solution,'' he said.

UNI