Source:   A1 Overview

On November 14, 2018, Sri Lankan attorney Senaka Weeraratna addressed a symposium at the Japanese Diet (Parliament). Invited by the Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact, he delivered a keynote speech titled “Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour ignited the liberation of Asia from Western domination – Time for Asia to express gratitude to Japan”. 

Key highlights of his address and the event included:

• Commemorative Occasion: The meeting commemorated the 100th anniversary of Japan’s 1919 proposal for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination at the Paris Peace Conference.
• Decolonization Perspective: Weeraratna argued that Japan’s military actions during WWII, specifically the attack on Pearl Harbour, served as the catalyst for ending Western colonial rule across Asia.
• Criticism of Tokyo Trials: He labeled the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (Tokyo Trials) as “victor’s justice” and a “Kangaroo Court,” citing the lack of Asian representation among the judges and the retroactive nature of the charges.
• Call for Gratitude: As the first Sri Lankan to speak at the Diet on this topic, he urged Asian nations to de-colonize their historical narratives and acknowledge Japan’s “blood sacrifices” in facilitating their independence.
• Notable Speakers: The symposium also featured the late Hideaki Kase, President of the Society, Japanese Historian Moteki and Professor Emeritus Eiji Yamashita. 
• This speech emphasizes Japan’s role in Pan-Asianism and challenges the Western-centric narrative of WWII.
• One of the most significant points in Weeraratna’s speech was the reference to the 1919 Racial Equality Proposal. This is a frequently overlooked moment in history where Japan’s attempt to include a non-discrimination clause in the League of Nations Covenant was rejected by Western powers, an event many historians cite as a turning point that soured Japan’s relations with the West.

The speech was held in Conference Room No. 101 of the Diet. 

Source:   A1 Overview