SAARC Car Rally flagged off from Delhi

Anura Maitipe in New Delhi

INDIA: The SAARC Motor Car Rally started from the Bangladesh costal city of Cox's Bazaar to strengthen regional cooperation among SAARC countries reached New Delhi yesterday after covering over 7215 kilometres.

The heads of SAARC countries flagged off the Rally in New Delhi yesterday. The Rally from there proceeded toward Rajasthan and it will reach Mumbai today. The SAARC Car Rally which reached the Capital City of India New Delhi by travelling across the valleys of Bangladesh, Bhutan Nepal, Pakistan will across the Rajasthan desert to reach Mumbai.

This rally was organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce ICC on the request of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to strengthen ties between SAARC countries.

During the past 21 days the rally covered over 7,215 kilometres From Bangladesh to the Capital City of India New Delhi.

The theme of the SAARC rally is to strengthen friendship, harmony and peace among the SAARC nations. The Prime Minister of Indian Manmohan Singh has proposed this rally to be held during the last SAARC summit held in Bangladesh in 2005.

A huge crowed gathered on the roads to watch the rally throughout it journey from Bangladesh.

Over 110 representatives from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri-Lanka, Nepal and Maldives are participating in this Rally. The ANCL, Sri-Lanka Rupavahini Cooperation and the SLBC provided a live coverage for the event.

The last leg of the rally will be held in Sri Lanka from April 10 to 12 and it will proceed from Colombo to Kataragama via Galle, Matara, and Hambantota. From there it will proceed to Kandy via Nawalapitiya and Gampola. It will reach Colombo via Anuradhapura and Kurunegala.