President leaves for Tajikistan to attend CICA

COLOMBO (News 1st) - President Maithripala Sirisena left for Tajikistan to attend the 5th Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) scheduled to be held in Dushanbe. The CICA is an international forum to strengthen cooperation, established to ensure peace, security, and stability in Asia. It was found in 1992. Sri Lanka received its observer status in 2012 and became a member in 2018. The Member States of the CICA include Afghanistan, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russia, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. CICA membership covers about 90% of the territory and population of Asia. It has another 8 states and 5 international organizations, including the UN, with observer status. CICA membership would further enhance Sri Lanka’s bilateral, economic and trade cooperation as well as people to people contacts with the other CICA member States. President Sirisena is scheduled to address CICA Summit on June 15th. The President will have bilateral meetings with several leaders including Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on the sidelines of the CICA Summit in Dushanbe.