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Change in India's Lanka policy unlikely: Japan

Colombo, May 19 (UNI) The Indian policy on Sri Lanka would not change despite a change in guard at New Delhi, the Japanese special peace envoy said today.

Yasushi Akashi, the Japanese special envoy in Sri Lanka's peace process with the LTTE said ''foreign policies of a country unlike economic policies tend to remain more consistent''.

He said he held talks with the Indian envoy Nirupam Sen during his five-day visit which conluded today.

Without a direct response to the question if the new Indian government would seek extradition of the LTTE leader Velupillai Parabakaran, Mr Akashi said India was very much interested in peace in Sri Lanka.

''India seems to be prepared to accelarate economic assistance programmes and willing to co-ordinate activities of international donors,'' Mr Akashi said.

He said he was satisfied with what India has been doing but ''one should not expect too much before the new goverment defines the precise outlines of its policies towards Sri Lanka. There may be elements of continuity and there may be changes of emphasis.'' ''All of us try hard to work with India which has enormous interests in Sri Lanka so that India feels comfortable and parties in Sri Lanka feel reassured about not working at loggerheads with each other,'' Mr Akashi stressed.

இலங்கை தொடர்பான இந்தியாவின் கொள்கை மாற்றமடையாது என்று யப்பானிய விசேட தூதர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.