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PR. No.202/2008

Date: 03/07/2008   

SRI LANKAN FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT

The Foreign Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mr. Rohita Bogollagama, called on President Pervez Musharraf in Rawalpindi today. The Foreign Minister is visiting Pakistan as a Special Envoy of the President of Sri Lanka to extend an invitation to our leadership to attend the 15th SAARC Summit to be held in Colombo on 2-3 August 2008.

The Foreign Minister conveyed to the President the good wishes of the President of Sri Lanka and apprised him of the preparations underway for the 15th SAARC Summit. He said that the forthcoming SAARC Summit will focus on current challenges faced by the region such as energy and food security, terrorism, etc. Issues such as SAARC Development Fund, regional connectivity, commercial and economic cooperation will be the special focus of the discussions at the Summit .

Recalling the 12th SAARC Summit hosted by Pakistan , the Foreign Minister said that it was a ‘turning point' in promoting regional cooperation in South Asia , which has since gained considerable momentum. The Foreign Minister lauded President Musharraf's valuable contribution for the success of SAARC and towards promotion of regional understanding and cooperation.

The President felicitated the Sri Lankan government on hosting the 15th SAARC Summit and urged the need to make SAARC into a more effective and viable mechanism for promotion of peace, development and progress of the region. The President emphasized the need for SAARC to develop inter-regional and intra-regional linkages and building of trust and understanding amongst its member states.. He noted with appreciation that the forthcoming SAARC Summit will focus on issues such as the food and energy security, which were common challenges for the entire region.

The President noted that friendly relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka were marked by close proximity of views and understanding on regional and international issues. The President also expressed support for the efforts of the Sri Lankan government in its fight against terrorism and to preserve its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Islamabad

3 July 2008