By Uditha Jayasinghe in Nepal
Taking time off from campaigning, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was in Kathmandu yesterday, where he called for a common voice among South Asian nations on international issues and cooperation on eradicating terrorism regionally and globally.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addresses the 18th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) at the Rashtriya Sabha Griha (City Hall) in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday.

Recapping economic and development challenges facing the eight members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Rajapaksa reiterated human rights should not be used to interfere in the sovereign affairs of a nation.

Human rights should not be recognised as a political agenda, he asserted, and called on SAARC members to “resist external manipulations” and to work together in this sphere. He also asked leaders to come together on a common voice at international fora and thanked for previous assistance given to Sri Lanka.
Following Rajapaksa’s address Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking the stand recalled Rajapaksa was one of only two leaders at the previous summit in Maldives in 2011 and wished him “good luck” in the upcoming elections.
“We gather here with renewed focus, desiring greater integration for peace and prosperity. SAARC has been evolving for almost three decades which is at a crucial juncture. There is a need to shift from traditional approaches and implement a result-oriented action that impacts directly on the people,” he said, while addressing the 18th summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Kathmandu, Nepal.
He drew attention to his Government’s national plan focusing on rural development as an example for SAARC to follow since it has averaged over 7% growth and achieved less than 6% poverty.
He pointed out that SAARC still has over 25% of its population in poverty, insisting that this disparity needs to be addressed.
“This is a policy for SAARC. Trade and services need to be seen not as an end in itself but as part of a greater economy. Our attempt to establish a South Asian community by 2030 must take into account growth disparities and no part of SAARC should be left behind,” he emphasised.
Climate change and the defining challenge of current times needed to be embraced by SAARC with a common position and become a significant voice on the global climate platform, he said.
He also praised India for developing and launching a satellite dedicated to SAARC.
Alternative energy resources were also highlighted by him to reduce dependency on traditional forms and improve regional engagement in the sector.
Pledging to complete a SAARC cultural centre in the Sri Lankan town of Matara in the near future, Rajapaksa said Buddhism could form a common platform for countries in the region to build trust and foster tourism.
He also appealed to the SAARC to declare a day to celebrate youth skills. Allowing air links to smaller cities in the region was also proposed to improve tourism.
The eight SAARC member states will hold discussions for collective development at the two-day summit on theme of ‘Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity,’ which opened in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu Wednesday.
Established in 1985 in Bangladesh, the SAARC is a regional association of eight South Asian countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Afghanistan joined SAARC as its eighth member in 2007.
Preparations are underway to sign three SAARC agreements that aim to enhance integration in key areas. Foreign ministers from each member-state are expected to sign the SAARC Railway Agreement, Motor Vehicle Agreement and Framework Agreement on Energy Co-operation.
A 31-point draft declaration that touches on a wide range of issues including counterterrorism, the promotion of trade and investment, infrastructure development, youth employment, reduction of telecom tariffs, regional connectivity, social security for elderly people, literacy, and SAARC’s transformation into the South Asian Economic Union by 2030 is to be released at the end of the summit.
On the second day of the Summit, the SAARC leaders will be taken to Dhulikhel for a retreat. The leaders will have an opportunity to hold informal talks for over two hours before they are flown back to Kathmandu after lunch.
The SAARC leaders will then attend the closing ceremony and witness the signing of three different SAARC-level agreements related to enhancing connectivity within the region. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to host a dinner at Shital Niwas later in the evening in honour of the visiting heads of state and government.
Besides the SAARC dignitaries, representatives from nine various Observers of SAARC including China and US have arrived in Kathmandu.