President leaves for SAARC Summit

[November 11, 2005 - 18.00 GMT]

President Chandrika Kumaratunga left for Dhaka the Bangladeshi Capital today. The President will lead the Sri Lanka delegation to the Thirteenth South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Summit in Dhaka. The delegation includes Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranaike and Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the President and the Department of Commerce.

The seven Member States are expected to focus on regional cooperation on poverty alleviation, economic matters, especially SAFTA, terrorism, environmental challenges, natural disasters, a South Asian development fund and a vision for SAARC in the third decade. New challenges such as the threat of avian flu may also receive attention. 

The SAARC leaders are expected to sign agreements related to customs cooperation, promotion and protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation and the establishment of a SAARC Arbitration Council. These agreements will facilitate the implementation of the SAFTA (South Asian Free Trade Arrangement) Agreement.

Pakistan, the present Chair of SAARC will hand over the Chairmanship to Bangladesh at the 13^th Summit, scheduled for 12-13 November 2005.

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Last Updated Date: November 11, 2005 - 18.00 GMT