INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The Informal Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held in New York last week
has approved the nomination of former Foreign Secretary and senior career diplomat Mr
Esala Weerakoon, to be the 14th Secretary General of SAARC, with effect from 01 March 2020
Weerakoon, presently serves as the Senior Additional Secretary to the President.
The meeting was Chaired by the Foreign Minister of Nepal
Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and attended by the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani, Foreign Minister of Bhutan Dr
Tandi Dorji, External Affairs Minister of India Dr
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Bangladesh
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Md
Shahriar Alam, and Sri Lanka Foreign Secretary.
Addressing the meeting held on 26 September 2019 on the sidelines of the 74th Session of
United Nations General Assembly in New York, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha welcomed the approval of the next SAARC Secretary General
and said Sri Lanka looks forward to contributing toward the further strengthening of SAARC in a positive sprit of engagement.
The SAARC
Ministers of Foreign Affairs reviewed the progress made in the past year and emphasised the importance of regional cooperation for enhanced
trade, investment, connectivity, tourism, culture, security, peace and stability.
The Foreign Secretary appreciated the Chair, Nepal
Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, for convening the Informal Meeting and the current Secretary General Amjad Hussain B
Sial for outlining the progress made and challenges before the Association
Sial for promoting the interests of the region during his term as Secretary General.
Emphasizing that the SAARC region is rich with
untapped potential of human and natural resources, the Foreign Secretary reiterated Sri Lanka commitment to regional cooperation and said
engagement with SAARC remains a high priority in Sri Lanka foreign policy
He said greater regional cooperation in enhancing connectivity, safety and security was paramount to sustainable growth and economic, social
and cultural development in the region.
Noting that terrorism and violent extremism presents a serious threat to collective peace and
security in the region, as Sri Lanka experienced recently during the recent Easter Sunday bombings, Foreign Secretary Aryasinha said South
Asia has been disproportionately affected by the scourge of terrorism in recent years
He further observed that Member countries should strive to address the transnational threat of terrorism in a collective manner, through the
exchange of information between the law enforcement agencies and dialogue.
Sri Lanka also reiterated its commitment to the SAARC Agenda for
Culture, with a view to promoting people to people contact and regional unity through arts
The new state of the art complex for the SAARC Cultural Center is under construction in Matara, Sri Lanka
The Government of Sri Lanka has so far provided US$ 10.5 Million for the construction
The SAARC Cultural Centre organises numerous participatory and non-participatory activities with the Member States, aimed at promoting and
protecting the rich cultural heritage of South Asia strengthening the ties among the Member States.
ESALA WEERAKOON APPROVED AS THE NEXT
SG OF SAARCThe Informal Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held in New York
last week has approved the nomination of former Foreign Secretary and senior career diplomat Mr
Esala Weerakoon, to be the 14th Secretary General of SAARC, with effect from 01 March 2020
Weerakoon, presently serves as the Senior Additional Secretary to the President.The meeting was Chaired by the Foreign Minister of Nepal
Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and attended by the Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani, Foreign Minister of Bhutan Dr
Tandi Dorji, External Affairs Minister of India Dr
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Foreign Minister of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Bangladesh
State Minister of Foreign Affairs Md
Shahriar Alam, and Sri Lanka Foreign Secretary.Addressing the meeting held on 26 September 2019 on the sidelines of the 74th Session of
United Nations General Assembly in New York, Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha welcomed the approval of the next SAARC Secretary General
and said Sri Lanka looks forward to contributing toward the further strengthening of SAARC in a positive sprit of engagement.The SAARC
Ministers of Foreign Affairs reviewed the progress made in the past year and emphasised the importance of regional cooperation for enhanced
trade, investment, connectivity, tourism, culture, security, peace and stability.The Foreign Secretary appreciated the Chair, Nepal Foreign
Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, for convening the Informal Meeting and the current Secretary General Amjad Hussain B
Sial for outlining the progress made and challenges before the Association
Sial for promoting the interests of the region during his term as Secretary General.
