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South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC):
Second SAARC Youth Camp - 2008
It was way back in 1980 that the idea of the regional co-operation
among the countries of South Asia were conceived as the imperialism of
the west suppressed them.
The first meeting of the Foreign Ministers of India, Pakistan, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Maldives, Bhutan and Sri Lanka was held in Delhi (India) in
1983 and adopted the declaration on the South Asian Regional
Co-operation (SAARC).
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Secretary to the Youth Affairs Ministry S. Wirithamulla opening
the 2nd SAARC Youth Camp by lighting the oil lamp. Senior
Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jayantha
Palipana and Chairman of the NYSC Bashawara Senaka Gunaratne
were also present. |
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A section of the delegates at the camp. |
All these countries were reputed with a great civilization and they
were Self-Sufficient countries. Under the rule of imperialism, these
countries lost their reputation of their own and became dependent
countries.
Though these countries got their freedom after National struggles,
they became poorer and poorer. So they needed an umbrella organisation
to develop themselves and to regain their prosperity and the SAARC was
the product of it.
They also launched the integrated programmes to develop their
countries in Agriculture, Health, Meteorology, Telecommunication and
Rural Development.
The first assembly of heads of those seven countries met in 1985. For
the function of the organisation they formed several institutions.
The SAARC youth organisation was formed in Bangladesh with youth
delegations of 7 countries in 2006. There was another camp held in India
in 2007 which was not recognised by the SAARC organisation. Therefore,
this SAARC Youth Camp recently held in Sri Lanka (National Youth
Services Council - Maharagama) was accepted as the Second SAARC Youth
Camp.
The 2nd Youth Camp was held from July 27 to August 1 at the National
Youth Services Council head quarters in Maharagama in view of the 15th
SAARC Summit in progress at present in Colombo Sri Lanka.
The inaugural session of the camp was held on July 29 at 9.00 a.m. at
the National Youth Centre Maharagama. The chief guest at the meeting was
the Secretary to the Ministry of Youth Affairs S. Wirithamulla.
The Chairman and the Director General of youth services in Sri Lanka,
Bashawara Senaka Gunarathne and the Senior Assistant Secretary to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jayantha Palipana were also graced the
occasion.
The keynote address was made by S. Wirithamulla and the welcome
speech was made by Bashawara Senaka Gunarathne.
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The group photograph of the delegates who participated at the
youth camp. |
Jayantha Palipana and representing the delegates Mr. Md.Umran Bin
Kamran Chowdhury of Bangladesh also spoke.
The cultural show with Udarata, Phatharata and Sabaragamuwa dances
performed by the dancing group of the NYSC graced the occasion.
The theme of the youth camp was ‘Partnership For Our SAARC People’
Sixty delegates from 7 SAARC countries (Male 30/ Female 33) were
participated at the youth camp.
The main discussion of the camp was conducted on July 30 and a
memorandum with the proposals and suggestions of the delegates was
drafted to be handed over to their Governments.
“All SAARC regional countries should strive jointly for the
betterment of the SAARC countries without any distention in religion,
language, ethnic differences. According to the history of our countries
we all are Aryans. We must strive hard to be SAARCIANS in the future.”
This was the final decision arrived at the discussion of the camp.
30th was listed as the aesthetic tamasha session. An aesthetic
tamasha was held in the evening with musical dancing and acrobats items
of all the participating countries.
The delegates visited Dalada Maligawa (Kandy), Elephant Orphanage (Pinnawala),
Peradeniya University, SAARC Village at Nawalapitiya (recently
commissioned to mark the 15th SAARC Summit in Sri Lanka) and Peradeniya
Botanical Gardens on July 31.
City tour was arranged on August 1 and the participants visited the
Parliament, children’s art exhibition at the Art Gallery (Colombo) and
handicraft exhibition at Laksala and Lak Pahana.
The closing ceremony and the SAARC friendship campfire tamasha was
held with pomp and glare at the NYSC grounds Maharagama.
The National Youth Services Council, Youth Affairs Ministry and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organised the camp.
Wehelle Piyathilaka, Maharagama Special
Correspondent |
