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Sri Lanka to Shift
SAARC Summit Venue to Colombo
The Sri Lankan government has decided to change the
venue for the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC)
summit from the central city of Kandy to the capital Colombo due to
security and logistical factors, a leading English newspaper reported
Sunday.
"Holding the summit in Colombo is easy in the light of available
security. Moreover, it is difficult within a short time frame to effect
improvements in the hill capital (of Kandy)," The Sunday Times
quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Ravinatha Ariyasinha as saying.
The SAARC summit is scheduled to be held from July 27 to Aug. 3 this
year.
Leaders of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, the
Maldives and Afghanistan are expected to attend the summit along with an
estimated 3,000 persons, including officials, security personnel and
journalists.
Ariyasinghe said another reason for shifting the venue was that Kandy
did not have adequate hotel facilities for the heads of government or
state, who would attend the summit.
The earlier plan was for the summit to be held at the International
Buddhist Center in Kandy while cultural shows and other conferences were
to be held at the Peradeniya University.
Government officials said although the main summit was being shifted to
Colombo, the exhibition, cultural programs and youth programs connected
to the SAARC summit would be held in Kandy as scheduled.
2008-03-17 |
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