Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama proposed enhanced action oriented initiatives on terrorism at the Opening Session of the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting in Uganda, said a press release released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 22.
 

Minister Bogollagama reminded that terrorism remained a major global challenge. He referred to fund raising by diaspora communities mainly in the West which was fuelling the illicit arms trafficking and the growth of terrorism, in this context he spoke of the need for closer co-operation in training, information gathering, intelligence and sharing of experience in dealing with terrorism in areas such as arms smuggling, maritime and airspace security, human trafficking procurement of arms and ammunition, illegal transfer of funds, bio terrorism, conscription of children, use of non profit organizations such as charities, criminalization, glorification of terrorism etc.
 

The Minister referred to the report of the Commonwealth Commission on Respect and Understanding, which was chaired by Prof. Amartya Sen outlining approaches to dealing with different aspects of terrorism and observed that it would be an appropriate basis for discussion on counter terrorism issues.  
  
He also addressed Sri Lanka’s concerns to Commonwealth Foreign Ministers on the issue of climate change. He highlighted that it had a direct bearing on Sri Lanka as an island and referred to sea level rise and increasingly adverse weather patterns affecting heavily populated coastal zone areas.

 

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Last Updated Date: November 23, 2007 - 4.30 GMT