SAARC Summit to bring immense benefits - Information and Media Minister

Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: The SAARC Summit will be of immense benefit to all countries in the region, especially Sri Lanka which holds and enjoys extremely good bilateral relationships with all SAARC countries, observed Media and Information Minister and Government Media Spokesperson Anura Priyadarshana Yapa at the weekly Cabinet briefing at the Government Information Department Auditorium in Narahenpita yesterday.

Minister Yapa said that despite the baseless and low-level criticism from certain quarters with vested interests, the proposed SAARC summit will pave the way for the SAARC countries to discuss at length and come into consensus and understanding on diverse issues of mutual interest.

The agreements to be inked at the summit between the SAARC countries in the region which covers a vast zone in business, security and other burning issues of the world, will be of tremendous benefit and significance, especially for a small country as Sri Lanka.

“The array of the characteristic criticism which comes from certain groups was anticipated and is inevitable.

In 1976 too, when the Non- Aligned summit was to be held in Colombo, the same criticism and flak was hurled at the Government by the same parties, despite the fact that Sri Lanka was to reap immense benefits by hosting it.

A little bit of inconvenience may be caused to the people, but it will be limited only to two days,” he said.

He categorically stated that Sri Lanka was galloping forward in all fronts victoriously, and had launched mega infrastructural and development projects for the future well-being of the nation.

Sri Lanka was receiving unprecedented international aid from all corners of the globe due to the popularity and the good name of our President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“Sri Lanka is not a ‘failed state’ or moving in that direction as alleged by certain quarters. We will achieve landslide victories with thumping majorities, in all the future elections”, Minister Yapa reiterated.

Fielding questions from the media on the inking of the controversial CEPA , Minister Yapa noted that the signing of the said agreement is yet to be finalised, and will be subjected to further consultation and dialog with the relevant officials and parties.

Refuting certain allegations from various parties who claim that the ‘bringing-in’ of armed personnel to the country, to protect their respective leaders, was an under-estimation to the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, Minister Yapa pointed out that such a practice was an universally accepted norm in such situations.

“They are only here to protect their own leaders,” he added.