Rajapaksa for political solution to ethnic Tamils issue

The President said he was firmly committed to ensuring that all the people of the country live together in friendship and harmony.

He said that his government is also committed to freeing the Tamil citizens who remained being held as hostages by the Tamil Tigers.

Rajapaksa welcomed assistance from friendly countries that appreciated the need to eradicate terrorism from Sri Lanka,for infrastructure development and other such needs to resettle the Tamil civilians who fled from the LTTE-controlled territories.

He assured that the resettlement would be done in the shortest possible time.

Meanwhile,the Japanese envoy commended the measures taken by the Lankan government 8220;to provide food,shelter,medicine and other essentials to the civilians under trying circumstances due to the sudden influx of such a large number of people8221;.

8220;I was glad to receive very firm reactions from President Rajapaksa that he attaches great importance to resolving the question of Tamil people,8221; Akashi said.

Rajapaksa is of the opinion that it is only through political solution a sustainable democracy can be established in this country,the Japanese envoy said in Colombo on Sunday at the end of his three-day visit to the country.

He said the Japanese Cabinet has decided to provide USD4 million assistance to Lanka to arrange tents,water supply and other things for the IDPs in Wanni.

I hope that at the earliest time LTTE will change its attitude and free the remaining civilians,held as hostages in the No-fire zone,he added.

8220;We have assurance from the government that it will adhere to their announced policy of zero civilian casualty8221; he told reporters.

The Japanese envoy assured Rajapaksa of his country8217;s assistance for the clearing of mines laid by the LTTE,and the provision of resettlement facilities in keeping with international standards.

Akashi said 8220;some people thought that this linkage between peace and assistance should work both ways. If there is more peace,there is more assistance. If there is less peace,less assistance. And Japan has not shared this view among the co-chairs,8221; he stated.

8220;But I am convinced that there is a future,there is a great usefulness to continue this free exchange of view among the four members very much concerned about stability and peace in Sri Lanka,8221; he said.

The co-chairs of the Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka,which now hold regular meetings,consist of US,Norway,EU and Japan.

Earlier,Norway has been told by Sri Lanka that its role as facilitator of the peace process was not necessary after suspected pro-LTTE groups attacked the Lankan Embassy in Oslo last month.