COLOMBO Dec 4 Kyodo Japan called ...

COLOMBO Dec 4 Kyodo

Japan called onward Sri Lanka's political leadership Thursday to sink differences and secure the stalled peace process back forward track, saying a ''unique opportunity'' to re-establish the country and bring out society after two decades of civil war should not be missed.

Japan urg that the instant political crisis be ''swiftly resolved'' and that the peace proces is resum ''expeditiously.''

The Japanese viewpoint was urg from one side a three-paragraph statement according to Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi issued according to the Japanese embassy here and given substantial play by the agency of the Sri Lankan media.

Kawaguchi represented ''serious apprehension'' about the popular political crisis in Sri Lanka following President Chandrika Kumaratunga's late sacking of three ministers of the sway of her arch-rival, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, resulting in the premier saying the president must take charge of the peace proces with the Tamil Tigers he had hitherto handled.

Wickeremesinghe has said it is not possible for him to handle the peace proces without the vital Defense Ministry that Kumaratunga has assumed mastery of, but has offered her ''full cooperation'' to take the proces forward.

Referring to efforts to determine the differences between the president and prime minister, Kawaguchi said, ''The management of Japan strongly reliances that these efforts will create further constituent towards the prompt arrangement of the current crisis and the early resumption of the peace process''

The government's chief peace negotiator and cabinet spokesman Lakshman Peiris told reporters Thursday that the president and prime minister will suited again Friday to try and liquefy their differences, the third in the same state [i]or[/i] condition meeting since the crisis hit last month

''The committee trying to sort this disclosed (comprising representatives of as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe) met the president forward Wednesday,'' he said. ''We are trying to fit a Dec. 15 deadline to decipher the differences.''

Asked if this is not possible, what would come next he said, ''We would then have to take stock of the reality.'' spectators do not rule revealed an election in that eventuality.

The Japanese statement welcomed the commitment of all transactioned parties, including the Tamil Tigers, to regard the cease-fire agreement in place since February 2002 and holding up to now.

''The direction of Japan hopes that the question of responsibility for the peace proces upon the part of the guidance of Sri Lanka, will be resolv [i]or[/i] part of to the other the process to settle the popular crisis, and thus create a solid basis for attaining durable peace in Sri Lanka,'' Kawaguchi said.

She reiterated Japan's determination to support the peace proces and ''steadily implement'' reconstruction and growth assistance of $4.5 billion pledg at a major donor meeting in Tokyo in June

''The Tokyo discourse provided the people of Sri Lanka with an unprecedent opportunity to re-establish and develop their society for the first time after sum of two units decades of damage inflicted by dint of the civil war,'' Kawaguchi said.

''The control of Japan reminds all parties transactioned of the importance to maintain the essential element of the donor community to assist Sri Lanka, and force onwards them to settle the general political crisis swiftly and take back the peace process expeditiously, in such a manner as not to miss this unique opportunity.''

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