Sri Lankan Prez thanks PM Modi for SAARC conference, promises support to combat COVID-19

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conducting "fruitful and constructive" video conference with leers of SAARC nations and promised his country's "fullest support" to combat Coronavirus pandemic.

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Rajapaksa on Sri Lanka's ecomy

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa began conference by expressing his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating move. leer said that Sri Lanka's ecomy h 'taken a serious blow' due to virus. He ded that tourism sector which was just recovering after 2019 terrorist attacks was suffering most. Rajapaksa said that Sri Lanka's biggest challenge was to stop virus from entering its territory and control it’s spre.

Talking about Sri Lankan citizens abro, he said that re were a large number of citizens working in Italy and South Korea. He furr said that 34 students were evacuated from Wuhan and 750 ors studying in different Chinese provinces were also rescued. During conference, Rajapaksa h recommended that SAARC leers work toger to help ecomy tide over difficult period.

"He (Rajapaksa) also recommended establishment of a SAARC ministerial-level group to share best practises and coordinate regional matters on combating COVID-19," as per a statement by Ministry of External Affairs.

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About SAARC conference 

Participants from all eight SAARC nations — India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Banglesh, Maldives, and Bhutan — held a video conference to exchange ir views and share experiences in fighting pandemic that has killed more than 6000 people globally.

conference witnessed Prime Minister Modi proposing creation of a COVID-19 emergency fund based on voluntary contributions from all countries, with India making an initial offer of USD 10 million for fund.

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