The international donor community could cut the strings attached to US$ 4.5 bn in aid

The international donor community could cut the strings attached to US$ 4.

5 bn in aid, with a thaw in the peace process far from sight.











The international donor community could cut the strings attached to US$ 4.5 bn in aid, with a thaw in the peace process far from sight. Japanese Peace Envoy Yasushi Akashi Tuesday, ending week long visit to review progress in the peace front said foreign aid promised to Sri Lanka at the Tokyo Conference in June 2003 would not remain frozen even though the ‘peace process’ was.

“Aid promised in 2003 isn’t locked up in a safe, until a reconciliation between the Sri Lankan government, and the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) is achieved,” said Akashi on Tuesday.

The diplomat added that with Japan was prepared to play the role of coordinator between the donor community and Sri Lanka.

Akashi said that while he was concerned with the apparent lack of progress, the Sri Lankan government and the Norwegian facilitators had assured him that it was an “ongoing process and it was not as easy as one may think.

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“I did detect a degree of flexibility in parties previously critical of negotiatio