COLOMBO, Dec 11: Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi on Sunday invited Sri Lanka and Tamil Tiger rebels to meet in Japan for talks to save their ceasefire, which is threatened with collapse after 31 people were killed in fresh violence. Akashi said he offered his country as a venue for talks between the government and the Tamil rebels after months of wrangling over a neutral venue to discuss the salvaging of their Norwegian-brokered ceasefire.
“Japan would be delighted if the parties agree to Japan to have the talks,” Akashi told reporters at the end of a five-day visit, during which he held talks with President Mahinda Rajapakse and other key leaders.—AFP
