Sri Lanka assures security for SAARC summit

Sri Lanka says it would be able to host the next SAARC summit despite a surge in deadly rebel attacks.

The eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, SAARC, is due to hold its 15th annual summit in Colombo in early August.

Colombo says everything possible would be done to ensure security.

Sri Lanka has seen a surge in violence since the government scrapped a 2002 ceasefire with the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam in January.

This year's SAARC meeting is seen as key as the region faces growing crises over soaring fuel and food prices as well as terrorism.