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Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has underscored the
importance for the Commonwealth to combat terrorism, as value
dedication to its global agenda. He made this observation during
a meeting on 26/04/2008 with the Commonwealth Secretary General
Kamalesh Sharma, who was on a visit to Sri Lanka to attend the
Commonwealth Youth Ministers' meeting, which is his first
meeting at Ministerial level, since assuming duties as Secretary
General earlier this month. They both agreed on the imperative
need for member countries not to be misled by the machinations
of terror groups, and to stand in solidarity with one another
against such threats.
In this context, they recalled the decision, endorsed by the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala last year,
to convene a meeting on terrorism, which would be hosted by Sri
Lanka. While noting that this meeting has been tentatively
scheduled for the last quarter of this year, Minister
Bogollagama pointed out the need for preparatory work to be
commenced immediately, and to ensure non- duplication of related
issues and value addition, as its foundation.
Secretary General Sharma appreciated Sri Lanka's undertaking to
participate in the Commonwealth Group at Heads of Government
level, to study the reform of international institutions. This
initiative which is also a Kampala mandate, will bring
approximately 10 -12 Heads of Government to consider issues
related to the reform of the IMF, World Bank etc. The Foreign
Minister shared the view that such a dialogue would link the
Commonwealth with the World Bank, thus profiling the
organization on the global economic agenda. He confirmed that
President Mahinda Rajapakse would attend the meeting to be held
in London in June 2008.
Foreign Minister Bogollagama emphasized the urgent need for
Pakistan to be re-admitted to meetings of the Commonwealth
Councils. The Secretary General while endorsing the Minister's
view, briefed him on the preparatory work for the Commonwealth
Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) scheduled for early next month,
which would consider this matter.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombo
27th April 2008 |