'Simulation SAARC Summit 2007'

Compiled by Lakmal Welabada

With the intention of spreading the concept of SAARC among students the 'Simulation SAARC Summit 2007', organised for the third consecutive time will be held at the BMICH from today till Tuesday.

'Simulation SAARC 2007' (SSAARC 2007) is organised by Ananda College Model United Nations Association with the collaboration of Simulation SAARC Organisation which consists of students from leading schools in Colombo. The concept is the brainchild of Mr. R. L. Ellawala, the teacher in-charge of Ananda College Model United Nations Association. UNICEF and the SAARC Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be funding the project. The students will get the chance of playing the role of a diplomat in this conference and it paves the path for the students to keep aside his/her ideas and think from the perspective of a country. They will be working and making statements according to the foreign policy of the country which is assigned to her/him. They are also expected to address conference on the current problems and then to forward the resolutions. Hence exposing the students to the diplomatic arena and obtaining their ideas is also one of the aspects in this conference.

Nearly 250 students from 15 leading schools in Colombo who will be in formal dress code will take part in this conference. The organising committee will consist of about 35 students. The SSAARC 2007 will be attended by the Bangladesh students as well. A group of students in Kalmunai which is a tsunami affected area are also invited to witness this event and to be a part of this venture. A number of students from selected schools will represent each country or group.

Colombo International School will represent the European Union, Stafford International School - Bhutan, St.Paul's Girls' School - Sri Lanka, Lyceum International - India, St.Joseph's College - Maldives, Gateway College - Pakistan, Wesley College - Bangladesh, Royal College - Nepal and D.S.Senanayake - Iran.

The 250 students are divided into seven different committees which will have seven different themes such as Agriculture and Rural Development, Poverty Alleviation, Environmental Protection and so on. Local or foreign persons specialised in above areas would impart their knowledge by delivering especial lectures to each committee.

And these seven specialists will be the seven chief guests of the opening ceremony of today. Neil Buhne, Resident Representative of UN Development Project will be the chief guest of the closing ceremony on Tuesday.

The prodigies of 'SAARC 2007' hope to forward their resolutions to the SSAARC Secretariat in Nepal. And they also hope to implement several socio-economic projects at school level, in the near future.

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