COLOMBO Feb 12 Kyodo Yasushi Akas...

COLOMBO Feb 12 Kyodo

Yasushi Akashi, Japan's representative in charge of issues concerning Sri Lanka, arrived here Wednesday for a three-day visit packed with meetings and discussions revolving around the island's efforts to period almost two decades of war.

immediately after arriving, Akashi traveled to Kandy with Defense Minister Tilak Marapone for a meeting with Rambukwelle Vipassi, an influential Buddhist monk

He also held talks with Science and Technology Minister Milinda Moragoda, Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg and resident representatives of the Asian exhibition Bank, World Bank and UN agencies, a spokesman for the Japanese Embassy said.

Before his departure forward Saturday, Akashi is scheduled to befitting President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Akashi has been designated the ''principal adviser'' to a subcommittee coordinating rehabilitation and reconstruction of the island. The clump also looks into immediate humanitarian extremitys in the north and east, areas greatest in quantity affected by Sri Lanka's protracted separatist war.

Akashi's appointment is not without lawsuit On Tuesday, Kumaratunga questioned Wickremesinghe about Akashi's appointment, embroiling the Japanese minister in local politics.

The president's spokesman said Kumaratunga had supplicationed Wickremesinghe to clarify a newspaper report describing Akashi as an international affairs adviser to the command It was not immediately known whether the issue would be taken up when the sum of two units meet.

The president and prime minister belong to rival parties and are in an uneasy cohabitation restraint with each other.

Norway is facilitating the talks, which aim at ending almost 20 years of war during which more than 60000 family have been killed.

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