SAARC summit focuses on connectivity, food security, energy

Dhaka, June 29 (UNI) Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has declared that the 15th SAARC summit in Colombo will focus on greater connectivity, food security and meeting growing demand for energy among member states.

Talking to reporters after meeting Foreign Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, the minister said theme of the 15th summit to be held on August 2-3 is the partnership for the people of SAARC.

''We will continue to focus on connectivity and transform it into partnership for the people of SAARC,'' said Mr Bogollagama, who came here last night to formally hand over invitation to Chief Advisor of the caretaker government Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed to attend the summit.

SAARC, the single largest group in the world having the one-fourth of the world population, comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said while implementing the SAARC agenda they have also identified some key areas that include new dimension for food security and energy crisis that looms large on economic activities of the member states.

He said the member states need to share their resources and find out alternative sources to meet the growing demand for energy.

Foreign Advisor Iftekhar said Bangladesh is looking forward to participate in the 15th summit in Colombo to transform SAARC into a People's SAARC.

He said the SAARC does not belong to the governments only, it belongs to the people and ''we are going to make it a people's SAARC.'' UNI XC SYU AS1419