COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, on Wednesday called upon the members of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) to "develop structures" to face the "social and economic challenges collectively and regionally."

Mr. Rajapakse made the call at the inaugural of the Fourth Conference of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians in Colombo. The conference, he said, would provide an opportunity for collaboration between SAARC MPs and strengthen Parliamentary processes in the countries.

Mr. Rajapakse stressed the need for SAARC structures as South Asia was home to a large per cent of the world's poor and all our countries are faced with serious and urgent challenges of poverty, unemployment, income disparities and social and economic deprivation."

'Lack of political interest'

The Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said that the "lack of political interest" among member states in the SAARC was among the reasons for the lack of progress made at the regional body compared to other regional organisations such as the ASEAN.

He called for a sustained effort to address the issues facing the region.

The Deputy Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Charnjit Singh Atwal, said it was "imperative" for MPs "to ensure that the Executive remains responsive and accountable."

"Each and every individual and institution of the State should be made accountable to the people who is the hallmark of any representative system," he added.

Lauding India's Right to Information Act, Mr. Atwal said, "once people have access to information they would start questioning activities that are not in consonance with rules and regulations."

This, he said, "will automatically work as a deterrent against negligence and corrupt practices."

The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, the Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, W.J.M. Lokubandara, and Speakers and Deputy Speakers from SAARC countries participated.

In addition to the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker, MPs Prasanna Acharya, K. Malaisamy, Karan Singh Yadav, and the Secretary General of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Mr. P.D.T. Achary, comprised the Indian delegation.

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