Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� June, 2003

Japan-Sri Lanka Summit Meeting Tuesday, June 10, 2003 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held talks with Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Mr. Yasushi Akashi, the Representative of the Government of Japan, who co-chaired the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka, held on June 9 and 10, also attended the meeting. During the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his expectation to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe for a re-opening of the peace negotiations with the anti-government forces in Sri Lanka that have been postponed since March. In response to the pledge given by the Government of Japan at the Tokyo Conference to extend assistance up to US$1 billion over the coming three years for the reconstruction of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe expressed his view that the fact that the assistance was tied to the condition of progress of the peace process would act to exert pressure on the anti-government forces. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe also indicated his eagerness to re-open the negotiations, saying, "The people in the disputed areas hunger for peace."