President calls for collective action to combat terrorism

The entire membership of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) needs to redouble its efforts for collective action to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations to promote peace and enhance prosperity in the region, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He was addressing the opening session of the 15th SAARC Summit at the BMICH yesterday.

The President said most countries of the region are faced with the curse of terrorism that threatens the peace and stability that is needed so much for the forward march of the people.

It is important to remember the element of interdependence which is crucial for a durable peace and the protection of democratic values in the region.

He said, “We must ensure strengthening regional legal mechanisms and intensifying intelligence sharing to secure the region’s collective prosperity, peace and stability. Indepth studies should be carried out to understand the social impact of this menace. Sri Lanka has seen the benefits of such cooperation in combating terrorism in our midst and hopefully eradicating it soon”.

President Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to all the regional partners and many friends from other quarters that have cooperated with Sri Lanka in organising the 15th SAARC Summit.

“It is also necessary that we, as a region, endeavour to set right the many wrong impressions that exist, or are promoted elsewhere, about the actions that are imperative to protect our people and societies from the brutalities of terrorism. Terrorism anywhere is terrorism and there are no good terrorists or bad terrorists”, he said.

“In my own country, the impact of this common heritage is best seen today in what we have achieved in the Eastern Province where we have defeated terrorism, restored democracy, elected a Chief Minister from a minority community who was a former child soldier, and most of all, where the Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities live together, work together, and together seek the common goals of progress and prosperity.

This indeed is a unique transformation within one year. This is my deep desire for the people in the North as well”, President Rajapaksa said.

He said there must be a spirit of large-heartedness by all including the stronger and wealthier nations, when some of these crucial issues are addressed. He hoped that the Colombo Summit will enable the SAARC dialogue with the Observer States to broaden into a process for constructive consultations, and project related cooperation in these areas.

The Colombo Summit takes place amidst a background of significant political events and major international issues, such as food and fuel insecurity and degradation of the environment.

It is the responsibility as leaders and representatives of the peoples to give tangible expression to the SAARC Charter objective of promoting the welfare and improving the quality of life of the people in the region which remains at the core of all our common endeavours, President Rajapaksa said.

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