President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s opening remarks at the press conference this (14 Nov) morning ahead of the commencement of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013 taking place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, this week. It is my pleasure to welcome you all. We meet just before the 22nd Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013, which begins tomorrow, in Colombo. This is the flagship event of the Commonwealth and takes place every two years. As one of the eight founding members of the modern Commonwealth, Sri Lanka remains committed to upholding the fundamental values of the organisation. As such, we are honoured to have the privilege to host this prestigious summit, providing a forum for Commonwealth leaders to discuss matters of common interest and priority. While the Commonwealth is unique in its diversity, we as Member Countries must ensure that it remains relevant to its 2.2 billion people. Collectively, we make up one-third of the world’s population. Over 60 percent of our citizens are under the age of 30, making the Commonwealth family, home to the largest number of young people. In this context, it is fitting that we commenced CHOGM week with the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Hambantota. The theme for the CHOGM 2013 “Growth with Equity: Inclusive Development” is relevant to all Member States. Equitable growth and inclusive development must cut across all segments of society. We, in the Commonwealth, must unite to achieve rapid, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, especially in developing countries, to ensure that no one is left behind. This theme also connects directly to the Post 2015 Global Development Agenda. As an organization that cuts across all regions of the world, the Commonwealth should contribute towards advancing this global dialogue. This is one of the areas that my fellow Heads of Government and I, will be discussing at this summit. We also intend to cover a wide range of other equally important issues. These include : The challenges of small states; The role of civil society in development; Public – private partnerships for wealth creation; Commonwealth values and principles; Enhancing participation of youth in development. International trade
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 02:21:22 +0000
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