ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, today [Sept 5] expressed `gravest concern` over `recent development of beginnings of Great Power rivalries in the Asian region`. Addressing a special joint session of the Parliament`s two Houses here this evening, she emphasised the need for the countries of Asia to work towards `An Asian identity` and get together to solve their problems on a regional basis.

Earlier, in a brief speech, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto welcomed the distinguished guest to the House. Mr. Bhutto said although all States could claim that they were peace-loving yet such a claim by only those States was valid which encouraged settlements of disputes on the basis of justice and strove to remove the shadow of the nuclear threat `which darkens mankind`s horizon`.

The National Assembly Speaker, Sahibzada Farooq Ali, presented a welcome address. Recalling `very close and friendly` relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he said: `Madam Prime Minister, you have stood by us during our difficult days and shared our worries for which we are deeply grateful to you`. Islamabad Bureau