ARF - a great opportunity

Sri Lanka's participation in the 14th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in early August, is both a signal honour for this country as well as a historic bridge-building event which will closely integrate us with the ASEAN region.

Accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) of the ARF will, no doubt, enable Sri Lanka to work in cooperation with the states of the ASEAN region in the area of terror containment, which is, of course, a number one national and regional priority.

It is no secret that terror organisations, such as the LTTE, have been winning ready support from some sections in the Asia-Pacific region in arms smuggling, money laundering and kindred shady dealings.

Such clandestine operations have enabled the Tigers to sustain their terror campaign against the Lankan State and it would be in this country's interests for Sri Lanka to cooperate closely with states in the ASEAN region to break these terror networks which are proving a scourge to the entire region.

This is a most opportune moment to strengthen Lanka's cooperative links with the ASEAN region because a considerable number of States in the Asia-Pacific region work very closely with the US in the latter's 'war on terror'. Therefore, it only stands to reason that Sri Lanka collaborates solidly with the ARF in its efforts to strengthen law and order in the region, because terror is one of our chief concerns.

Particular attention needs to be paid in the area of inter-State intelligence gathering and sharing which proves vital in defeating the terror designs of the LTTE.

Apart from strengthening law and order in the Asia-Pacific region, our entry into closer collaborative and friendship ties with the ASEAN region could pave the way for stronger developmental links with the states concerned. For, the Asia-Pacific region remains the epicentre of global economic growth.

The 'Leaping Tigers' of yesteryear remain an economic force to contend with and are dynamic centres of economic activity.

Sri Lanka would be only doing herself immense good in terms of economic growth by seeking closer economic ties with the ASEAN region.

Particularly in the area of Foreign Direct Investment, these ASEAN States would prove most valuable because they are in the process of looking out for more and more outlets for investment.

We have the case of Malaysian, Japanese and Indonesian firms, for instance, which are on the look out for sound investment possibilities in this part of the world.

If investment promotion is to get into top gear all investment possibilities should be fully explored and exploited.

We need to look out for newer and newer markets for our goods and services. From this point of view, ARF would prove a grand opportunity which is waiting to be fully utilised.