Japans special envoy Yasushi Akashi says the government and the LTTE need to resume talks urgently.
Akashi said the donor community is expecting the two parties to resume talks within the next few weeks.
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rnAkashi made his observations at the close of the first follow up meeting to the Japan donor conference in June. rn
rnSenior officials from twelve nations and seven international funding agencies came together at the meeting to discuss the immediate next steps in the assistance process and to evaluate progress since the aid pledge in June. rn
rnAkashi who chaired the session, said the international community will assist Sri Lanka in the hope and expectation that a durable peace settlement would be built. rn
rnOfficials said the international community would always look to increase their assistance beyond the US$ 4.5 billion pledged at the June Tokyo conference if a positive workflow is sustained, with both the government and the LTTE working together to develop the country.
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rnIn additi