With the final defeat of terrorism, as Sri Lanka opens a new chapter in economic and social development, it is entirely appropriate that Japan – with its close cultural ties to our country – should extend its role in trade, investment and bilateral aid, Professor G L Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade, said during his meeting in Tokyo with Hirofumi Nakasone, Foreign Minister of Japan.

Professor Peiris, who referred to the persevering efforts of Yasushi Akashi, Japan’s Special Envoy, with regard to Sri Lanka’s peace process, said that the intransigence of the LTTE made a negotiated settlement with that group impossible.

The government’s priority now is resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation, he observed. Prof. Peris described to Japan’s Foreign Minister the structured and sequenced steps being taken by the government in the post-conflict situation.

The firm resolve of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government to address the muti-faceted tasks connected with the care of displaced persons who had been held as human shields by the LTTE, calls for the support and understanding of the international community, the Minister stressed.

This humanitarian work is being supplemented by the implementation of plans to restore the livelihoods of the population in the affected areas. Economic revival and infrastructure development are being undertaken with the assistance of the private sector, both local and foreign, he commented.

Minister Peiris briefed Japan’s Foreign Minister about the government’s initiative to revive the democratic process by holding local government elections in the Northern Province within the next few months.

In the new atmosphere of peace and tranquility, there is abundant scope for the involvement of Japanese companies in a wide range of activities, especially in respect of agro-based industry, health care, fisheries and the energy sector, he continued.

Prof. Peiris, who referred to the 3.5 billion dollar aid package put together in Tokyo in June 2003 in respect of Sri Lanka, said that conditions on the ground with the advent of stable peace are conducive to the utilization of substantial aid for the wellbeing of the country.

He thanked the government of Japan for the generous demining assistance received by Sri Lanka recently.

Prof. Peiris made a detailed presentation on the current situation in Sri Lanka to the National Japan Press Club in Tokyo.

The Minister was accompanied on both occasions by Jayantha Palipane, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Japan.

Yasuo Fukuda, former Prime Minister of Japan, at a luncheon meeting with Prof. Peiris, said that the eradication of terrorism offered scope for renewed commitment to economic progress and pledged Japan’s strong support for efforts by the government of Sri Lanka in pursuit of this objective.