GL meets Commonwealth Secy General :
CHOGM 2013 should have economic focus
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s wish is that the Commonwealth Heads of
Government meeting (CHOGM) 2013 should have an economic focus, with
particular emphasis on youth entrepreneurship in the rural sector,
External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris told Commonwealth
Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma.
External Affairs Minister Professor G L Peiris meets
Commonwealth Secretary-General
Kamalesh Sharma. |
He said since the majority of Commonwealth members are developing
countries, with an interest in developing their rural economies and
empowering their rural population to achieve higher development targets,
a development oriented theme of creating wealth and opportunity for all,
will have resonance with many.
Sharma who is here to attend the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary
Conference being held in Colombo, called on the minister yesterday.
The Secretary-General discussed with Minister Peiris the arrangements
for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting which will be held in
Sri Lanka in November next year.
The Secretary-General and the minister reviewed the extensive
logistical arrangements under way for the Summit. In the interest of
completeness, plans are being made to hold a Commonwealth Youth Forum
and a Commonwealth People’s Forum as part of the event.
The minister told Sharma that the Subcommittee on Media and Publicity
has called for designs of the CHOGM website and logo from the public. He
said a briefing will be provided for Commonwealth Member countries on
the preparations underway to host CHOGM 2013 at the Commonwealth Foreign
Ministers’ meeting which will be held on the sidelines of the United
Nations General Assembly later this month in New York.
Prof Peiris gave the Secretary-General particulars with regard to the
discussions he held in London last week with Commonwealth Business
Council chairman Dr Mohan Kaul regarding arrangements for the
Commonwealth Business Forum which will be held in Colombo to coincide
with CHOGM.
The Secretary-General had extensive discussions with the National
Task Force chaired by the Secretary to the President. The Task Force is
keeping under constant review the arrangements for the Summit. Minister
Peiris told the Secretary-General that Sri Lanka looks forward to
welcoming Heads of Government of the Commonwealth and all other
delegates to Sri Lanka next year.
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