Mr. Akashi is to visit Trincomale and Batticaloa on Saturday for a first hand study of the situation in the East and is expected to meet the ordinary civilians in the area, sources told the Daily Mirror.
Mr. Akashi is to urge both the government and the LTTE to resume the peace talks immediately to enable donor countries to release the pledged funds, diplomatic sources said.
He is to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Friday to explain the stand of the donors on the peace process. Mr. Akashi had been appointed by the Japanese government to inspect the follow up action on the Tokyo Declaration adopted in June 2003 in Japan.
Mr. Akashi is to hold talks with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse on Thursday and with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe next week. He is also due to meet Foreign Minister Laskhman Kadirgamar and political party leaders during his stay in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Akashi will leave for the Wanni on Sunday to meet LTTE political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvam and other leaders.
Informed sources said that in a surprise turn of events, JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe had telephoned the Japanese Embassy and asked for an appointment to meet Mr. Akashi. The meeting between the peace envoy and the JVP leadership has been scheduled for Friday at the JVP headquarters. This is in contrast to what happened during Mr. Akashi's last visit in May when the JVP reportedly refused to meet him.
The LTTE has reportedly asked Mr. Akashi not to release the pledged US $ 4.5 billion aid till the peace talks are resumed, Tamil political sources told the Daily Mirror.
On the way back to Tokyo Mr. Akashi is scheduled to stop in New Delhi to brief Indian leaders on the position regarding Sri Lanka's peace process.
