Govt. hopes Japan will ban LTTE

The Government hopes the latest visit by Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi will result in the listing of the LTTE or the freezing of its funds in Japan, defence spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Minister Rambukwella said Japan had deferred listing the rebels in August last year after the LTTE had given an assurance it would cease violence and resume peace negotiations.

However as the rebels had failed to live up to that expectation the Government felt Japan should put pressure by listing the LTTE, he said. “We hope that after Mr. Akashi goes back he will know the ground situation better and this will result in Japan banning the LTTE,” Minister Rambukwella told the media yesterday. On Tuesday Mr. Akashi had discussions with Government peace secretariat head Palitha Kohona on the peace process.

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