More contact required between SAARC countries: SL Ambassador

Visakhapatnam, Mar 30 (UNI) Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal Sumith Nakandala today said more people to people contacts, particulary in exchange of information on science and technology is required between the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

Addressing the three day international seminar on 'envisioning a new south Asia', under the auspices of the Centre for SAARC Studies (CSS) and sponsored by Ministry of External Affairs Delhi, CSS of Andhra University here, Mr Nakandala refuted the criticism that SAARC had achieved nothing as compared to other regional cooperation bodies like EU or ASEAN.

He said the island country was working out a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with India and ''very soon it would be finalised''. The proposed visa extension scheme in SAARC countries -India, Pakisan, Afghanistan permanent invitee), Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives would allow people to move freely in those countries.

He said under the SAARC set up, people to people contacts and connectivity by road and air between these regions had improved, besides opening of free trade in the region.

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