Akashi warns Sri Lanka aid may be reviewed

TOKYO — Japan's envoy to Sri Lanka's peace talks warned the Sri Lankan government Thursday that Tokyo may review its financial aid if it further accelerates its military pressure on Tamil Tiger rebels in the wake of the end of a six-year cease-fire between the two sides.

"Japan's assistance to Sri Lanka is intended to improve the conditions of the people, not the government alone," the envoy, Yasushi Akashi, said in a press conference in Tokyo after pointing to speculation that the Sri Lankan government purchases arms with funds provided by Tokyo for humanitarian purposes. Akashi visited Sri Lanka on Jan 13 to 15 to urge the government and the rebels known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to pursue political resolution following the government's decision earlier this month to withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement sealed in February 2002.