Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickreman-ayake has said cooperation among South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries may help to improve economy in the region, Aaj News reported yesterday.

Addressing the third SAARC conference in Islamabad, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said Sri Lanka may help Pakistan against terrorism if requested. SAARC countries have common problems and they could only be resolved by mutual efforts, he added.

Wickremanayake said in order to enhance the quality of peoples’ life in the region all SAARC countries would have to work with mutual cooperation.

He said drafting the policy against terrorism is the countries’ internal issue and Sri Lanka has never interfered in any country’s internal issues, however, his country is ready to help countries including Pakistan to curb terrorism if requested.

President SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industries Tariq Saeed in his address said that SAFTA must be made effective. Only economic cooperation among SAARC countries would help to change their mindsets, he added.

He said the establishment of food security reserves is necessary for SAARC countries.