LS Speaker to lead Indian delegation at conference in Lanka

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan will be leading the Indian delegation at the Conference of the Association of SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians to be held in Colombo from October 4.
Mahajan will deliver the lead speech on the topic 'Association of the SAARC Speakers and Parliamentarians, a platform for the Parliamentarians of South Asia to work together to reach the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development', according to a statement issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat.
Other topics of the conference include 'Promoting Parliamentary Diplomacy and Open Parliament in the age of digitalization', 'SAARC Parliamentarians role in preserving Cultural and Archaeological Heritage in South Asia Region', 'Support Women to upheave themselves from poverty and build better future for their communities'.

The topic of 'Countering violent extremism among youth to prevent terrorism and empowering youth to combat human trafficking, modern slavery and illegal trafficking in drugs' is also on the agenda of the three-day conference.
The inaugural ceremony will be attended by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe.
The Speaker will also attend the special parliamentary session of Sri Lanka to celebrate the occasion of 70th anniversary of the establishment of Parliament of Sri Lanka.