Statement by Mr. Hatsuhisa Takashima, Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, regarding the Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election

April 6, 2004

As one of the co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstructions and Development of Sri Lanka, the Government of Japan dispatched an election observation mission to observe the general election held on April 2, 2004. The Government of Japan, taking into account the assessment by the mission and others, applauds that the election was conducted in a largely free, fair and peaceful manner throughout the country, although there were some isolated cases of violations of election laws and other malpractices.
The Government of Japan also evaluates that the mission was able to perform its duties smoothly.
The Government of Japan has been implementing its assistance in reconstruction and development of Sri Lanka based on the principles of the Tokyo Declaration with a view to supporting the advancement of the peace process in Sri Lanka. The Government of Japan strongly hopes that a responsible new government will be established expeditiously responding to the election result, so that the peace talks will be resumed as soon as possible and thus substantial progress will be achieved in the peace process.

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