The 15th Saarc Summit will focus on food security and energy crises to further enhance co-operation among the member countries of the region to face these challenges collectively. This was stated by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama while addressing a press conference here at local hotel along with High Commissioner of Sri Lanka.
The theme of 15th Saarc Summit is "partnership for the betterment of the people", he added. Rohitha Bogollagama said he extended invitation on behalf of President of Sri Lanka to the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to attend the 15th Saarc Summit being hosted by Sri Lanka on August 2-3.
He said Saarc made visible progress in a number of areas like poverty alleviation, but strengthening of this regional forum, especially in the fields of regional co-operation, environment, agriculture and food, water and energy security is of utmost importance.
Commenting on Pakistan and Sri Lanka's bilateral relations, he said the two countries have historic ties and there is lot of scope for religious tourists to Pakistan from Sri Lanka. The Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been instrumental in bringing manifold increase in the bilateral trade between the two countries, he added.
The Foreign Minister said Saarc is working on right track to promote trade and economic activities within the region and expressed the hope that it will make further progress in this regard.
Regarding bilateral disputes and Saarc's role, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said such bilateral disputes are not within the jurisdiction of the Saarc charter therefore they are not discussed in the Saarc Summit.
He said Saarc has achieved another milestone to set up Poverty Alleviation Fund that has collected over $300 million so far contributed by the member countries. The Foreign Minister said Sri Lanka has been co-ordinating closely in health and education fields and its institutions are sharing experience with Pakistan. He said there is also scope to expand co-operation in the Telecommunication Sector.
He said Pakistan and Sri Lanka have also been co-operating in the security sector. Answering a question, he said, both the countries are working to sign agreement for exchange of prisoners so that the Pakistani prisoners could be repatriated to Pakistan to complete their remaining sentences in their own country.
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