Arrangements underway for SAARC

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

COLOMBO: Arrangements have been finalised to hold the 15th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Sri Lanka.

The Heads of States and Governments of SAARC countries have confirmed their participation in the summit, Foreign Ministry officials said in Colombo. The summit will be held at the BMICH, Colombo between July 27 and August 3.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hand over the SAARC chair to Sri Lankan President during the summit. India hosted the 14th SAARC summit in 2007. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama had extended a formal invitation to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to attend the 15th SAARC summit during his visit to New Delhi India.

The Summit will be held under the slogan “Growing Together”. The theme of the 15th SAARC conference will be “Towards a South Asian Union”, sources said.

The Summit this year will focus on soaring oil prices, the food crisis in the backlog of the concept of SAARC energy ring for regional energy cooperation to accelerate the process of economic growth and social development in South Asia. The sources added that the meeting will also focus on the problem of terrorism.

Foreign Ministry officials representing the Member states of SAARC countries, are scheduled to hold discussions at the BMICH, Colombo on July 27 and 28. The Foreign Ministry Secretaries of the Member States will meet on July 29 and July 30.

The Council of the Foreign Ministers will be held from July 31 to August 1. The summit will be held with the participation of Heads of States from SAARC countries on August 2 and 3, sources said.

Around 1,000 delegates from SAARC countries, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka and hundreds of journalists are expected participate the summit.