Invitation Program of Young People for Promoting Sri Lanka’s Peace Process

February 16, 2009
Japanese

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will invite nine Sri Lankan young people (three Tamils, three Muslims, and three Sinhalese) from eastern part of Sri Lanka from February 17 (Tue) to 24 (Tue) on the Invitation Program of Young People for Promoting Sri Lanka’s Peace Process.
During their stay in Japan, the participants will pay a courtesy call on Mr. Nobuhide Minorikawa, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Yasushi Akashi, Representative of the Government of Japan on the Peace Building, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Sri Lanka. They will also exchange views with representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Sri Lanka-related NGOs and universities, and will visit Kyoto and Hiroshima.
The participants of this program, who will shoulder the future of eastern Sri Lanka, where stability and development are outstanding issues after the liberation from the long-term domination by a rebel organization, are expected to learn the nation-building process through deepening their understanding on local governance system in Japan. This program also intends to build mutual confidence among the ethnic groups in Sri Lanka and promote their understanding on Japan.
This is the fourth of the series, following the past invitation programs in November 2004, February 2006, and February 2008.

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