1

I would like to begin my short intervention by expressing Japan’s great satisfaction with the success of the two past sessions of peace talks on Sri Lanka, particularly positive progress made in the peace process. In this regard, Japan wishes to pay warmest tribute to Norway for its great diplomatic skill and persistence as the facilitator of the negotiations. Japan would also like to pay its deepest respect to the Hon. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for his decisive leadership which allowed him to steer the peace process on his side.

2

As an Asian country, Japan has had a long and deep friendship with Sri Lanka, which in Sanskrit means “a brilliant island” on the Indian Ocean, and which occupies a crucial position in the sea traffic and has a great potential for economic development. It is all the more reason why we deplored the internal conflict in Sri Lanka, which lasted for almost twenty years. Now peace process has commenced, and I myself was able to confirm earlier this month the deep yearnings of war-weary people of Sri Lanka for an enduring peace.

3

a)

As peace process has begun, we face a bright prospect of major progress in the process, if every Sri Lankan is enabled to enjoy “peace dividend” in a tangible manner as a result of the efforts of Sri Lankan people combined with rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance by the international community.

b)

The “peace dividend” should be evenly distributed, taking into account the balance between the north-eastern part and the southern part of the country, and the equally sensitive balance between Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims.

4

a)

In the last ten years, Japan, in cooperation with other countries, has been engaged in the post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction in Cambodia, Afghanistan, Eastern Timor and elsewhere. The case of Sri Lanka today is epoch-making in that even before the framework of peace has been agreed the international community will give its support and commitment to accelerating the peace process.

b)

Japan’s involvement in Sri Lanka is a realization of the concept of “consolidation of peace”, advocated by Prime Minister Koizumi and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi. On the basis of the request made by the Sri Lankan Government, Japan will positively involve itself in the reconstruction support in the north and east, while we appeal to the two parties to achieve sustainable peace, and we will do our share to contribute to the progress in the process.

5

a)

As the largest external donor country to Sri Lanka, Japan has made substantial contribution to the social and economic development of the country. Japan is implementing projects covering infrastructure building in power, transport and communication, medicine, education, water supply, health/sanitation and many other fields. In the conflict area of the north and east, Japan has given emergency humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced persons through grass-root grant support and through international organizations. We have every intention of continuing these activities in a positive spirit.

b)

In addition to the above, we wish to announce the following pledges to
support the on-going Sri Lankan peace process
.

i)

We will provide, through UNHCR, emergency grant of 2.86 million US dollars in order to help the internal displaced persons’ conditions of life in view of the fact that over 180,000 out of estimated 800,000 internal displaced persons in the north and east have already returned home for their daily necessities, housing, water, health control and others.

ii)

In order to support the impoverished to become independent farmers and small entrepreneurs with a so-called “micro finance” project, Japan has been giving support within the limit of 1.368 billion yen. Japan will henceforth add the north and east to the areas of micro finance applications, taking into account the progress in peace process
.

c)

In order to make international assistance to Sri Lanka effective, it is vital that
there should be a clear order of priority and the avoidance of duplication in aid. From this viewpoint, we attach importance to the work of the Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East, which has been working on clarification of priorities and coordination of assistance. Japan is ready to continue to contribute to this Sub-Committee as an adviser. Furthermore, since assistance scheme varies from donor to donor and between
international organizations, we strongly hope that there will be flexibility and pragmatism in accepting aid from the international community. We are prepared to produce ideas to bridge these seemingly conflicting concerns, as we go along.

6

This Oslo Meeting has great significance in order to show a unified commitment of the international community to support Sri Lanka in its attempt to attain durable peace. Japan is seriously considering to host a conference on reconstruction of Sri Lanka at a suitable point next year in order to show sustained commitment of the international community and to give further impetus to the peace process. At such conference, we suggest to conduct wide- ranging discussions on the nation building and economic and social development of the conflict area, but also challenges of Sri Lanka as a whole, including the south in their medium to long-range perspective.

7

It is only obvious that in the end peace will be realized on through self-reliant
efforts by each one of the Sri Lankan people. The support of the international community is in the end only supportive and supplementary. In that sense, for the Tokyo Meeting on Reconstruction to become meaningful, it is indispensable that substantial progress shall continue to be made in peace negotiations. In order to implement reconstruction assistance in the north and east, the safety of assistance related personnel has to be assured, and the system has to be established to assure transparency and appropriate use of support fund. We urge particular efforts of both parties towards ultimate peace. Sri Lanka is a country with high educational standard, and once peace takes hold, there is good possibility of rapid economic development. However, in order to bring about economic development, the Government of Sri Lanka itself has to implement, with vigour, policies aimed at economic growth. From this viewpoint, the Government of Japan strongly support the peace initiative taken by Prime Minister Wickremasinghe and his economic policy, embodied in the document on entitled “The Future: Regaining Sri Lanka”.

8

I would like to conclude my statement by expressing a strong hope that, taking into account the coordinated support & arrangement of the international community, the Government of Sri Lanka and LTTE will join in redoubling their efforts to promote the peace process.