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The Secretary-General of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) made an official visit to Sri Lanka from February 6-8. Mr. Q. A. M. A. Rahim, a distinguished Bangladesh diplomat, succeeded Mr. Nihal Rodrigo of Sri Lanka as SAARC Secretary General after the 11th SAARC Summit, which concluded in Kathmandu in January 2002.

Mr. Rahim began his tour of SAARC countries with his visit to Sri Lanka as outgoing SAARC Chair. During his visit, Mr. Rahim met with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tyronne Fernando, Minister of Samurdhi R. A. D. Sirisena, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Ravi Karunanayake, Minister of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs, Karunasena Kodituwakku as well as with the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources Rukman Senanayake. He also held extensive discussions with SAARC focal point and SAARC affiliated bodies in Sri Lanka at the Sri Lanka Institute for International Relations (SLIIR). (At a lunch hosted in his honour by the Secretary/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary-General met with all SAARC Ambassadors and High Commissioners in Sri Lanka). During the visit, the Secretary-General was accompanied by Mrs. Nasreen Rahim and Director Ahmed Sareer of the SAARC Secretariat.

During his discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affair Tyronne Fernando, the Secretary-General informed that the next high level meeting on the SAARC agenda was the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for May/June this year. Minister Tyronne Fernando confirmed Sri Lanka's participation at this meeting, as well as at the eight SAARC Ministerial Meetings scheduled for this year.

The Secretary-General consulted with the Government of Sri Lanka on matters of priority arising after the conclusion of the 11th SAARC Summit. All Head of States of SAARC countries had reiterated their commitment to the SAARC process at the 11th summit and the Secretary-General was confident that SAARC could now proceed towards the implementation of many issues, which had previously been delayed due to the inability to hold the summit level meeting.

On the economic front, Sri Lanka expressed its commitments to the SAARC objectives as outlined by the Secretary-General for proceeding stage by stage to the ultimate objective of Economic Union. The SAPTA is expected to hold the fourth round of negotiations soon, and a draft SAFTA Treaty had already been circulated among SAARC member states. A SAARC trade fair will be hosted in Kathmandu this year, and a SAARC Arbitration Council has been proposed to deal with trade disputes in the SAARC region. In addition to measures taken to boost intra-regional trade, steps have been taken together with the European Union to increase SAARC- EU trade.

Where social issues were concerned, Sri Lanka will support the special initiative of the 11th SAARC summit to give a new emphasis to poverty alleviation in the region. Sri Lanka also welcomed the recent SAARC initiatives aimed at welfare of women and children, and will take necessary measures for the implementation of the two related conventions signed at the 11th SAARC summit. The Secretary-General also highlighted that the Independent Advocacy Group of Women to be setup by SAARC countries will promote women's issues in the SAARC region.

The Secretary-General welcomed Sri Lanka's special effort to promote cultural co-operation among SAARC countries. Sri Lanka has offered to host a South Asian Cultural Centre, and will also host the first meeting of Ministers of Cultural Affairs of SAARC countries this year.

As chair of the SAARC Technical Committee on Human Resources Development, Sri Lanka confirmed to the Secretary-General that the second meeting of the TC will be hosted by Sri Lanka, as well as a SAARC workshop on quality improvement in primary education.

The Secretary-General also welcomed Sri Lanka offer to host this year a meeting of Legal Advisors of SAARC countries in order to review the SAARC Convention Against Terrorism.

The Secretary-General concluded his visit with an exchange of views with representatives of SAARC focal points and SAARC recognised bodies in Sri Lanka.

The Secretary-General thanked Sri Lanka for the efforts made to facilitate his visit and for the valuable guidance given to him in Sri Lanka's capacity at the outgoing SAARC Chair. He also thanked the government of Sri Lanka for the constructive proposals made in order to expedite the future work of SAARC in achieving the objectives of the organisation.

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