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Home Media Releases Messages Message from Hon. Prime Minister on the occasion of the Commemoration of SAARC Charter Day
Message from Hon. Prime Minister on the occasion of the Commemoration of SAARC Charter Day PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 08 December 2008 08:04
I am very pleased to issue a message on the occasion of the Twenty-third anniversary of SAARC Charter Day.

SAARC, since its inception in 1985, has moved forward steadily to reach its current level of progress, creating institutions and mechanisms to promote regional development. The main objectives of SAARC involve the promotion of welfare of the people of South Asia and improvement of their quality of life. It is important that SAARC Member States work with firm resolve towards creating greater awareness among the general public on the mutuality of interests which is vital for successful regional cooperation. Stressing the importance of people participation in SAARC, President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged at the Fifteenth SAARC Summit held in Colombo in August 2008 that SAARC be given “a truly people-centred focus through all its programmes and mechanisms. It is then that SAARC can become the robust Partnership for Growth for all our People.”

SAARC must accordingly reach beyond the state sector through greater connectivity and collaboration with diverse stakeholders in our nations in order to achieve prosperity for all. Our eight nations in South Asia that form the SAARC family must also work together with firm resolve to meet the common challenges, especially those that threaten our security, peaceful co-existence and progress in the region.

Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka
Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka