Sri Lanka sealed off roads and deployed 19,000 soldiers and police in the capital Sunday to prepare for a summit of South Asian leaders, the Associated Press reported. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the summit, which is to address a food and energy crisis and other issues, would play an important role for regional cooperation. «This is the largest ever SAARC summit to be held,» he told reporters Saturday, adding that «security must be the ultimate.» The summit began with low-level meetings Sunday and foreign ministers are to arrive later in the week. The heads of state hold their two-day meetings starting next Saturday. The regional body _ set up in 1985 to promote economic cooperation _ consists of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan and the Maldives. Around 12,000 police and 7,000 troops have been deployed in Colombo to provide summit security, Nanayakkara said. During the meetings, several main roads in Colombo will be sealed, while trains will not be allowed to run through the heart of the capital.
