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
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