As the world’s attention remains focused on West Asia, a significant development is taking place in the land of the rising Sun. Hakone, in Japan, is the venue for the sixth round of the peace talks between the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE from 18-21 March 2003. Earlier, the talks were mostly held in South Asia – Thimpu in 1985, later New Delhi, and Colombo in 1995. Thailand was the venue for the first, second and fourth round of peace talks and Norway was the venue for the third round. The fifth round was held in the Norwegian Embassy in Berlin.

Japan provides nearly 45% of the total economic aid to Sri Lanka. It is now focusing attention on the political aspects of the relationship.   Earlier, in August 2002, while welcoming the commencement of the peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated that “Japan reiterates its readiness that once a durable peace is established, Japan will spare no efforts to extend cooperation towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of those areasâ€Â