President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that although terrorism is no more in Sri Lankan shores, there is a need to ensure that it would never raise its ugly head again.

“Eternal vigilance therefore is vital, particularly as terrorist organizations have extensive international networks. Undoubtedly, the cooperative spirit which exists within our Grouping on addressing this issue will continue,” he said.

“Terrorism, wherever in the world, in whatever form or manifestation, is a threat to the collective security of all nations,” he said addressing the Third Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar this morning (March 4).

Lauding the significant strides made by the BIMSTEC in increasing cooperation among nations in the Bay of Bengal region, said that the key characteristic of the organization has been the meeting of the ‘Look West’ policy of the ASEAN nations and the ‘Look East’ policy of their South Asian counterparts, thereby bridging two of the most dynamic regions in the world.