Japan’s special envoy to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi has criticised Sri Lanka’s repetitive appointment of commissions and failure to act on them, in a press conference held at the Japanese Embassy in Colombo yesterday.
Speaking after a 6-day visit to the island, Akashi stated,
“There is a certain amount of impatience and frustration on these matters and there is a notion that the Sri Lankan Government has taken too much time appointing commissions and then shelving their reports without taking any action.”
“I hope the government of Sri Lanka is reflecting upon these past repetitions."
"I think time has come for action and I hope that kind action is needed, the implementation of the LLRC report is a good testing case of real action, it’s the people in Sri Lanka not those in other countries are anxiously waiting for action and not just sound and fury”.
Akashi went on to say that Sri Lanka should be willing to listen to the international community, noting,
“A pre requisite is the willingness of the Sri Lankan Government to listen to the concerns of the International Community and the Human Rights Council which represent the International Community”.
He was also questioned on the cases of the killing of 5 youth in Trincomalee in 2006 and the massacre of 17 Tamil aid workers for the French Charity ACF, on which Akashi commented,
"Japan has been urging Sri Lanka on these matters and the people involved in this should be brought to justice."
During his visit to the island, Akashi met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well as with TNA leader R Sampanthan and Northern Provincial Council Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran.
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