Statement by Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the End of the Civil War in Sri Lanka

May 19, 2009
Japanese

Japan welcomes the end to the military conflict between government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an armed anti-government group, in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Japan expresses its sympathy for the many precious lives lost over twenty-five years of civil war.
Japan hopes that the Government of Sri Lanka will follow the proper legal procedures in its dealings with LTTE personnel who laid down their arms and surrendered. Assistance to and resettlement of a large number of internally-displaced persons are great importance and political processes for national reconciliation needs to make swift progress. Japan hopes that the Government of Sri Lanka will continue its efforts to address these challenges.
Japan will also continue to support the Sri Lankan government in its efforts towards national reconciliation.

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