SAARC Finance Ministers: Meet now to help Sri Lanka

I suggest Sri Lanka calls for an urgent meeting of Finance Ministers of SAARC countries immediately, to be held in Colombo, to discuss how they can help Sri Lanka get out of its present economic crisis, and build a new tradition of regional cooperation; and also find out who our good Samaritans are. This I think is a more welcome departure from the normal going around the world with the begging bowl, undermining one’s self-respect.

I am making this proposal in the wake of India imposing tough conditions for the USD 1 billion loan requested by Sri Lanka, trying to impose its hegemony on the peripheral nations of the Indian subcontinent; giving priority to its self-interest, blatantly ignoring the high principles of the SAARC Charter.

This could also be a good opportunity to test the effectiveness of the SAARC Charter for Regional Cooperation and to find out who our true friends are, as well. Also, let us see how each country can contribute to regional cooperation within the SAARC region, and how they can build up as a strong regional economic power, within the emerging strategic Indo-Pacific region.

The last summit of the eight-nation grouping was held in Nepal in November 2014. This shows the inactivity of this organisation, which has killed mutual cooperation within the region due to self-interest on the part of some members.

Over to you the Government of Sri Lanka, if there is one.

The proposed meeting could also be a golden opportunity to give new life and new meaning to the objectives of the SAARC Charter.

Dr. SUDATH GUNASEKARA