I have great pleasure in sending this message to all Sri Lankans at home and abroad on the happy occasion of the dawn of the New Year - 2009. 

The past year has been quite significant in raising Sri Lanka's international profile. The notable highlight of our successful diplomacy was the hosting of the 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo, with the participation of 8 Heads of State or Government and 7 Observers. The assumption of the SAARC Chair has imposed a heavy responsibility on Sri Lanka. However, Sri Lanka under the dynamic leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be equal to the task of discharging its responsibilities for the greater benefit and welfare of the peoples of the SAARC region in the coming year.

Today, we in South Asia commemorate the Twenty-third anniversary of the day on which seven nations of South Asia came together in 1985 to sign a Charter establishing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). SAARC has since grown to an eight-member organization with Afghanistan’s entry into our fold. 

The SAARC region is home to one-fifth of the world’s population, making SAARC the largest regional entity in the world. We are heirs to a rich cultural heritage. Our countries form a mosaic of rich cultural traditions, languages, arts, and philosophies. We should, in unison, work to safeguard our rich heritage and also rise to face the challenges that test us. On this occasion marking the twenty-third anniversary of the signature of the SAARC Charter, our eight nations should rededicate our efforts with firm resolve to work together to realise the noble aims we have set for ourselves.