Lack of Trust Among SAARC Member States Hinders Regional Integration: Jayanath Colombage

Former Foreign Secretary calls for a ‘Sri Lanka First’ strategy focused on national economic development

Colombo, October 20, 2026: Mistrust among member states remains the biggest obstacle to the progress of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), preventing the regional grouping from realising its full potential, former Foreign Secretary and Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage has said.

“Despite significant strides in regional cooperation, which led to the signing of the SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA), the momentum gradually faded as a lack of trust hindered further progress,” he said.

Colombage noted that persistent rivalry between India and Pakistan continued to cast a long shadow over collective efforts to strengthen regional ties. He identified the trust deficit among member states, inadequate maritime infrastructure and poor connectivity with inland economic centres as major barriers to regional integration.

He made these remarks at the Undergraduate Seminar 2026 on Sri Lanka and the Belt and Road Initiative, organised by the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL) in Colombo on October 19.

“Unless these deep-rooted obstacles are addressed, South Asia will continue to struggle to achieve meaningful economic integration, leaving its immense economic potential largely untapped,” he said.

Admiral Colombage, a former Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy, also pointed out that the World Bank had identified inadequate maritime infrastructure as one of the key factors undermining the region’s economic performance.

He stressed that Sri Lanka must pragmatically distinguish its national economic priorities from broader regional security concerns, ensuring that security considerations do not overshadow the country’s development aspirations.

“We should be more concerned about our own economic development than the security interests of others,” he said, emphasising the need for a clear and forward-looking national strategy.

He further stated that Sri Lanka should adopt a “Sri Lanka First” approach, guided by a clear vision of where the country intends to be over the next five to ten years.

BRISL Director Maya Majueran, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Economist Dr. Vagisha Gunasekara, and Founder Chairman of the Awarelogue Asian Institute Dr. George I. H. Cooke also addressed the seminar.

BRISL Founding Director Yasiru Ranaraja moderated the event.