The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said here Sunday that the 15th SAARC summit in Colombo would focus on greater connectivity, food security and meeting growing demand for energy among the member states.

Talking to reporters after a meeting with Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury at state guesthouse Padma, he said the theme of the 15th summit to be held on August 2-3 is 'partnership for the people of SAARC'.

"We'll continue to focus on connectivity and transform it into partnership for the people of SAARC," said Bogollagama who came here on Saturday night to formally hand over invitation to Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed to attend the summit.

SAARC, the single largest group in the world having one-fourth of the world population, comprise Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said while implementing the SAARC agenda, they have also identified some key areas that include new dimension for food security and energy crisis that loom large on economic activities of the member states.

He said the member states needed to share their resources and find out alternative sources of energy to meet growing demand.

Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Chowdhury said Bangladesh is looking forward to participating in the 15th summit in Colombo to transform SAARC into a "people's SAARC."

He said SAARC does not belong to the governments only, it belongs to the people and "we are going to make it a people's SAARC."