The SAARC nations on Friday decided to jointly fight the coronavirus pandemic. Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal and Bhutan welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal for formulation of a joint strategy by the SAARC grouping through a video-conferencing of the leaders of the countries to fight the global menace.
Modi’s appeal through Twitter in the morning got a prompt response from Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Bhutanese premier Lotay Tshering. Pakistan and Bangladesh, however, are yet to respond.
Among the SAARC nations, India has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases at 81 followed by 22 in Pakistan, eight in Maldives, three each in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and one each in Bhutan and Nepal.
Together, we can set an example to the world and contribute to a healthier planet, Modi told his counterparts in SAARC. “I would like to propose the leadership of SAARC nations chalk out a strong strategy to fight coronavirus. We could discuss, via video-conferencing, ways to keep our citizens healthy,” he said.
Continued on Page 4
SAARC nations hail Modi’s
call for anti-virus joint plan
“Our planet is battling the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. At various levels, Governments and people are trying their best to combat it,” he said on Twitter. South Asia, which is home to a significant number of the global population, should leave no stone unturned to ensure that the people are healthy, he said.
Welcoming the proposal, Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka is ready to join the discussion, share its learning and best practices as well as to learn from other SAARC members. “Thank you for the great initiative Narendra Modi -- Lanka is ready to join the discussion and share our learnings and best practices and to learn from other SAARC members. Let’s unite in solidarity during these trying times and keep our citizens safe,” Rajapaksa said in a tweet.
Nepalese Prime Minister Oli also welcomed the proposal and said his Government was ready to work closely with SAARC member states to protect people from this deadly disease. “I welcome the idea advanced by Prime Minister Modiji for chalking out a strong strategy by the leadership of the SAARC nations to fight coronavirus. My Government is ready to work closely with SAARC member States to protect our citizens from this deadly disease,” Oli tweeted.
Maldivian PM Solih said his country welcomed the proposal and would fully support such a regional effort. “Thank you PM Narendra Modi for taking the initiative on this important endeavour. COVID-19 requires collective effort to defeat it. The Maldives welcomes this proposal and would fully support such a regional effort,” he said.
The Bhutanese Prime Minister said, “This is what we call leadership. As members of this region, we must come together in such times.” “Smaller economies are hit harder, so we must coordinate. With your leadership, I have no doubt we will see immediate and impactful outcome. Looking forward to the video-conferencing,” he said.
The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation that comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.