Japan Denies Reports of Aid Cut to Sri Lanka

"Akashi further said that he remained convinced of the assurances given by the President with regard to Sri Lanka’s approach to the Peace Process. He dismissed the reports in some newspapers as a misrepresentation of what he said at the press conference"

____________________________________

(February 01, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) “In a telephone conversation with Foreign Secretary Kohona, Ambassador Akashi, the Japanese peace envoy, vehemently denied that Japan was reconsidering its aid policy, vis-à-vis, Sri Lanka,” according to statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo.

“He confirmed that the aid policy remained unchanged. Japan, he said, was very encouraged by the APRC proposals and was looking forward further developments,” the statement added.

Mr. Akashi further said that he remained convinced of the assurances given by the President with regard to Sri Lanka’s approach to the Peace Process. He dismissed the reports in some newspapers as a misrepresentation of what he said at the press conference, the statement blamed to Medias.

However, “we could be forced to review our aid policy if military action keeps escalating, although Sri Lanka wants Japan to continue it," Yasushi Akashi, Japan's special peace envoy to the island," medias quoted on Akshi's thoughts at media conference in Tokyo on yesterday.