Japan’s peace building diplomacy in Sri Lanka

This article argues that Japan has been seeking a more active political role in international affairs since the 1991 Gulf War. While the urge to play a larger political role is not new, the attempts to specifically consolidate peace in countries suffering from severe ethnic conflict and violence mark a new development in Japanese foreign policy. Tokyo is now committed to play a political role even in civil war-torn countries where thousands have perished and peace has yet to be fully restored. The commitment to engage in peace building is evidenced by Japan's diplomacy in Sri Lanka.