Lanka calls for intensified action to combat terrorism in the
BIMSTEC region
Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama emphasised the urgent need for
enhanced cooperation among Member States of the Bay of Bengal Initiative
for Multi Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to
combat terrorism.
The Minister made this call, when he addressed the tenth Session of
the BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting in New Delhi yesterday.
Addressing the seven-member grouping, the Foreign Minister stated:
“Terrorism is an abominable phenomenon that affects all of us, big and
small, directly or indirectly, today. Terrorist groups network with one
another globally.
Their operations, in our own experience include fundraising through
the narcotic trade, human smuggling, procurement of arms and ammunition,
and money laundering, all of which pose a grave threat to our societies
in more ways than one.
Sri Lanka views the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combating
Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking as an important
landmark of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Sector, which
would intensify our cooperative efforts in combating terrorism.
The Group on intelligence sharing relating to Counter Terrorism and
Transnational Crime has had two meetings in Colombo. These meetings have
been useful in exploring ways and means to share information to combat
terrorism and transnational crime.
Enhancement of cooperation in all sectors relating to combating
terrorism is crucial. I therefore emphasize the urgent and dire need to
further enhance cooperation within BIMSTEC in this important area.” |
