Sri Lanka to push for SAARC Summit
With the postponement of the 12th SAARC Summit to be held in Islamabad next year, Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando will be speaking to Pakistan and India informally, in a move to persuade the two parties to hold the summit soon.

Minister Fernando told The Sunday Times that he would take up the issue with India's representative who is expected in Sri Lanka this week to attend the BIMSTEC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand Economic Cooperation) meeting to be held in Colombo this week.

The matter was initially to be taken up with India's Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha who was to take part in the conference. But, in a last minute change on Friday night, the commerce minister has been assigned to attend the conference.

Discussions on the summit will also be taken up with Pakistan's Foreign Minister informally. The 12th SAARC Summit to be held in Islamabad from January 11-13 was postponed due to failure to get proper confirmation of attendance by India.

'Nepal is the sitting Chairman and therefore it should take the matter up. There's very little we can do,' Mr. Fernando said. Both President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Minister Fernando have confirmed their participation. However, the internal conflict between the two countries - India and Pakistan - has now left the dates for the summit uncertain.

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