Britain announced that aid to Sri Lanka would be doubled despite the south Asian island’s government refusing to heed to international calls to halt the war it’s waging in which hundreds of Tamils have been brutally killed in the past ten days alone.
Japan’s special envoy to Sri Lanka Yasushi Akashi during his visit to Sri Lanka in January also provided assurances that his country will continue to provide aid to Colombo’s government despite its poor human rights record.
British aid to Sri Lanka stands at £5 million after the announcement and the UK is to send experts to assess where the extra cash can best be spent.
The extra £2.5 million of help doubles the sum announced in October last year to support the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, the International Organisation of Migration and the World Food Programme.
International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander added: "Not enough aid is getting through to those who desperately need it. I welcome the Sri Lankan President's assurance that civilians will have safe passage through the conflict zone to reach a secure environment.”
"I urge all parties to make sure that this safe passage is implemented and that efforts are made to assist civilians to move away from danger. Other donors must consider providing additional humanitarian support for the thousands of innocent civilians caught up in this conflict."
Addressing a press conference at the Colombo Hilton at the end of a brief tour, signalled that Japan was ready to financially back Sri Lanka’s efforts to develop the Eastern Province, liberated by security forces in 2007
Akashi said Japan was aware of the needs of the Eastern Province. Asserting that the East needed urgent assistance, Akashi emphasised that restoration of law and order and good governance would be a requisite for development aid.
Responding to a query raised by The Island, the diplomat said that a USD 4.5 billion pledge given to Sri Lanka at the two-day Tokyo Donor Conference in June, 2003, wouldn’t be denied to Sri Lanka, despite the Sri Lankan government walking out of the ceasefire.
As part of the peace process spearheaded by the government of Norway, international donors pledged USD 4.5 billion over four years.
