Rajapaksa calls SAARC to break shackles of bureaucracy

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called on SAARC countries to break through the shackles of bureaucracy and pursue a co-operative, action-oriented path.

On the occasion of the 30th SAARC Charter Day on Monday Rajapaksa said, “The Government and people of Sri Lanka join me in extending warm felicitations to the people of South Asia.”

In his message, he pitched for SAARC to lead a framework for more robust cooperation which would result in tangible benefit to the people of South Asia.

“Our region is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnic groups, religions and languages nurturing over centuries the finest works of philosophy, arts & culture, music, dance, attire and cuisine. Common civilizational links bind us through values of unity and tolerance. SAARC’s strength is in its diversity and harmonious coexistence,” he said.

“Sri Lanka, as a founding member, attributes high importance to the purposes and principles of the SAARC Charter. Since its establishment in 1985, the SAARC process has grown from strength to strength based on our shared values, beliefs and objectives.”

“The regional will to cooperate in many important areas under the framework of SAARC has manifested itself in a number of landmark developments. This has served to provide greater stimulus and vitality to the SAARC process. The recent Eighteenth SAARC Summit held in Kathmandu, Nepal was yet another significant milestone in the progress of the SAARC process for the overall growth of the region through partnership with peoples,” he added.

Meanwhile, stating that it is a moment for the member states to reflect on their weaknesses and to work on the region’s commonalities, Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said: “It is a fitting occasion for SAARC to celebrate the achievements made so far and to re-focus our resolve and commitments for building a strong, prosperous and cohesive South Asia.”

Saarc General Secretary Arjun Bahadur Thapa said although the pace of the South Asian counterpart does not match that of Asean or the EU, the decision to fully operationalise the Saarc Development Fund–social, economic and infrastructure–would aid regional development.

The SAARC summit held in November this year pitched for Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity, focused on enhancing connectivity between the member states for easier transit-transport across the region.

The summit took place after an interval of three years as the last summit was held in 2011 in Maldives and the next summit will now be held in Islamabad in 2016.