SAARC Summit fine opportunity to focus Lanka’s image to the world

The Government has finalised all arrangements to hold the 15th SAARC Summit which begins today.

When Sunday Observer interviewed people to get their views on the SAARC Summit, a senior economist, attached to a London based economic agency located in Sri Lanka, Dr. Siri Wanigasekara commended the Government’s effort to bring all Asian leaders under one roof at this crucial moment when the country is combating terrorism in the North.

He proposed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa should take a few leaders to war-torn areas in the North to show them the destruction caused by the LTTE.

Dr. Wanigasekara also reminiscing about the previous SAARC summit held in Colombo in 1991 said that the former President Ranasinghe Premadasa took a large contingent of SAARC officials to war torn areas in Jaffna, Batticaloa, Kilinochchi and Wanni.

“The objective of the then President was to show the foreign officials the real situation in the Northern and Eastern provinces,” he said.

Secretary to a company Director, Gayani Iddamalgoda welcomed SAARC leaders and asked the Government not to spend a huge amount of money for street decorations.

She however, said that it was nothing wrong to spend money on roads and building constructions for the SAARC Summit, considering that they were permanent.

Businessman, Samarasiri Lokuliyana urged the authorities to appoint a committee to monitor the fund allocations already granted by the government for road construction, decorations and illuminations, which are carried out for the SAARC Summit.

“If not, funds could be utilised in irregular manner”.

Ven. Gampola Premaratna Thera of Dematagoda Methmunindaramaya temple said “The Government must get the maximum support at this conference and take the foreign media to the North to expose to the world the problems faced by people in the North”.

Civil Engineer, Nalaka Suresh said “Whoever says the Government spends a colossal sum of money on the SAARC Summit and it will adversely affect our economy, my personal view is that this conference will immensely help our country to reap more economic benefits in the long run.

He therefore, urged the Government authorities to call for a business forum where local entrepreneurs could share views with the SAARC business community who will be in Sri Lanka with their leaders. Nikadalupotha Navodya school, Vice Principal Hemalath Peris asked the Industrial Minister to discuss with Indian and Pakistan leaders and take steps to establish new industrial sites in Sri Lanka.

Retired Health Department employee, Michal Anthony said “I think the SAARC summit is a good opportunity to urge Asian leaders to help Sri Lanka militarily to eliminate terrorism from the land.”

Executive in the mercantile sector, Priyantha Upul Kumara asked summit organisers not to spend unnecessarily.

As a keen environmentalist, Upul Kumara also urged the authorities to minimise using of polythene as it will badly affect to the environment in the Colombo city.

Leader of a music band, Nayanajith Shivendra of Negombo proposed to use the Government to take SAARC officials to meet shanty dwellers in and around the Colombo city.

“Such a visit will encourage the SAARC officials to help the Lanka’s poor community,” he said.

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Pix: Vipula Amarasinghe