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“As you recover and restore a country which is peaceful and united, we are on your side. Lanka provides a very good investment environment for Japanese businesses. If matters are left only in the hands of the two major communities - Sinhala and Tamil - things may end up in a very bad clash,” the visiting Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi said on 13 December in Colombo.
Special Envoy Akashi was addressing Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen during his courtesy call on Minister Bathiudeen.
Also present on the occasion were Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka Nobuhito Hobo as well as members from the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, including MP Hunais Farook, Gen. Secy. of All Ceylon Makkal Congress Y.L.S. Hameed and Eastern Provincial Council Deputy Chairman Ameer Ali Shihabdeen, Northern Provincial Council Member M. Janufer. Minister Bathiudeen leads the All Ceylon Makkal Congress.
In 2012 Japan was Sri Lanka’s third largest foreign financier after China and India as a Development Partner committing $ 521 million. Thirty nine Japanese private investment projects are currently in operation, the bulk of them entering in the immediate aftermath of the opening of the country’s economy in 1977.
Addressing Special Envoy Akashi, Minister Bathiudeen, speaking on behalf of the northern Muslim IDPs, said: “Whenever you visit Sri Lanka it’s a boost for bilateral relations between both countries. During resettlement as the Minister of Resettlement, I gave priority to immediately displaced people from the north; almost all were Tamils, about 300,000.
“At the same time 100,000 Muslim IDPs were outside in Puttalam and Anuradhapura. They were old IDPs, in makeshift camps for the last 22 years. I started resettlement from Menik Farm, not with Muslim IDPs and only after Menik Farm resettlement we started Muslim resettlements.
“After I was given this portfolio a new minister took over resettlement but up to now no resettlement of the Muslim IDPs have taken place and they are suffering due to 20,000 houses and 79 school buildings being destroyed.
“Those days there were so many NGOs supporting refugees but now most NGOs left, donors are also not so willing and the 100,000 Muslim IDPs are suffering. This will become a big issue in future.”
Akashi said: “Japan is very honoured to work closely with Sri Lanka. We have attached great importance to Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern Provinces in our aid and assistance programs. You are making great efforts to recover from the conflict damage. As you recover and restore a country which is peaceful and united, we are on your side.
“On the basis of recognising the diversity and need for tolerance among various ethnic groups and religions is a very sensitive and task and I wish you all much success in this. I have carefully listened to the concerns of Muslim communities in the north and east.
“Japan has never forgotten about the importance of the Muslim community as a stakeholder in the whole of peace process and subsequent rehabilitation and reconstruction stages. We are aware of your existence. I have noticed that the merger of the north and east is not something you wish for.
“I think Muslim community has an important role. If matters are left only in the hands of the two major communities - Sinhala and Tamil - things may end up in a very bad clash. As the third stakeholder, the Muslim community can play a very judicious but a balancing role to ensure that there is a common objective uniting these communities.
“I think your leadership is very important. The northern people are very hard-working. Even one third of Colombo population appears to be from north. Lanka provides a very good investment environment for Japanese. Lanka is an ideal spot for Japanese Small and Medium sector to enter and invest. Problems can be resolved by a conciliatory approach rather than confrontation.”
Speaking about his meeting with TNA, Akashi said: “From the TNA I learnt that they are happy about Japan’s role in Sri Lanka. They are also happy that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has fulfilled his promise to hold northern elections.
“The Northern Province Chief Minister seems to be having some communication problems with the central government. They are anxious and they are worried but I said that they should be patient and continue the dialogue with the Government.
“TNA’s Northern Chief Minister is a very good man, everybody admires him, but his experience as a politician and administrator is not very great. He has been a very outstanding Judge. He has to find new ways and methods to find solutions. But everyone should work together and help him and not impose solutions on him. Also everyone should help him to get used to his role. All, including the Muslim parties, should work together with this new leader.”
Ambassador of Japan Nobuhito Hobo said: “Sri Lanka should demonstrate to the international community how it goes about resolving the conflict. No investor wants to invest in a conflict area and they don’t want to see it here either. Though differences exist, Lankans express willingness to create harmony.”
Minister Bathiudeen added: “Earlier we did not have any differences but the terrorists differentiated us and chased us away. When the war was over, all the Tamils were resettled but not the Muslims. The problem is these 100,000 Muslims are suffering a lot. No one talks about these IDPs – no media, no diaspora, even other Muslim countries are patient. Japan has been a great friend of Sri Lanka and we are thankful for continuous Japanese support over decades. Even from Indian housing scheme, Muslims are not given their share. This is the correct time to clear the land issue.”
Responding to Minister Bathiudeen Envoy Akashi said: “You are very eloquent in persuasive on the problem of Muslim minority in Sri Lanka. Your problems are quite complex – especially the land issue, which is important for all communities. It’s being addressed. So in the months to come some bitter situations could emerge.
“Let’s be very patient and start communicating with each other. Since your concerns are legitimate, you should continue to ask for more attention on the problem of your peoples. We should not adopt a simplistic approach due to the complexity of the Muslim problem-it’s not so easy.”
Both Minister Bathiudeen and Special Envoy Akashi also joined in praise of Ambassador Nobuhito Hobo for his active contribution and role in Sri Lanka.
