July 25, 2008	Friday	Rajab 21, 1429

COLOMBO, July 24: The forthcoming 15th Saarc summit will exhibit Sri Lanka’s resilience against terrorism and the country’s vibrant democracy, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said in an interview amidst reports that Foreign Ministers of Japan, China and South Korea are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka as observers during the summit in addition to foreign ministers of the member nations.

Outlining the programme of the summit to be held in Colombo, the foreign minister opined that based on the Saarc theme ‘Partnership for Our People’, the summit will see the inking of several agreements pertaining inter and intra-free movement of trade between and among the member states of the Saarc region.

Agreements for multi-legal assistance in criminal matters aimed at combating terrorism and trans-boundary crimes, is to be signed along with an agreement for food security and protection.

Among the issues to be deliberated by the heads of state of the eight-member group will be the global fuel hikes, world food crisis, economic growth, inter regional trade, poverty alleviation, social development and terrorism in South Asia.

Meanwhile, ahead of the Saarc regional summit, delegates hailing from eight South Asian countries, comprising academics, researchers and politicians meeting in Kandy, asked South Asian leaders to establish new institutions such as a people-centric court of justice and a South Asia bank to strengthen the economic and human rights situation in the region.