Lanka keen on strengthening regional ties: Mahinda Rajapaksa

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is keen on strengthening regional ties and the need to accelerate South-South cooperation, said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday. In a virtual address to the 77th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Prime Minister Rajapaksa said UNESCAP should commit itself to being relevant and responsive with measures such as assisting small countries with pandemic recovery and vaccination programs, encouraging the growth of foreign employment opportunities, promoting Eco-tourism and Health-tourism and encouraging investments into and find markets for emerging nations.
This year’s meeting was conducted virtually from April 26 to 29 under the theme “Building Back Better from Crises Through Regional Cooperation in Asia and the Pacific.” While the Covid-19 pandemic dominated the discussions this year, other issues such as climate change, debt relief, investments, equitable health access, sustainable development and regional cooperation were also discussed.