The South East Asian economies came together under the umbrella of the Association for South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1967. Like their European counterparts, ASEAN was initially regarded more as a political forum, intended to provide a "buffer" against the spread of communism in East and South East Asia, rather than as a group with an explicit commitment to promote economic cooperation in the region. Thus, it was almost 25 years after its initial establishment that ASEAN took the initiative to accelerate economic integration through the creation of a regional free trade area.
Sri Lanka, which had been invited to accept membership of ASEAN from its inception, opted instead to maintain its commitment to a "non-aligned" status. Global economic changes in the 1980s, however, prompted Sri Lanka to review its position, vis-à-vis membership of regional blocs, and it became a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in 1985. The latter part of the 1980s saw a proliferation of new regional trade blocs, and the emergence of three distinct economic power blocs in North America, Europe and East Asia. As the increasing cost of being on the periphery of these growth centres was becoming more apparent, Sri Lanka unsuccessfully sought to establish a dialogue partnership with ASEAN in 1992. ASEAN's relations with third countries are presently at full dialogue or sectoral dialogue levels. The process of becoming a full dialogue partner starts with sectoral cooperation.
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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka actually received an invitation to join ASEAN when it was formed over 46 years ago but did not accept. Since then, political, trade and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and ASEAN member states have been tight and mutually beneficial. Sri Lanka is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and has played a leading role in promoting regional economic and cultural cooperation. Yet, SAARC is bogged down mainly due to India’s size and the India-Pakistan rivalry. Becoming a member of ASEAN would give Sri Lanka an insurance policy against unwelcomed Indian interference. The biggest gain Sri Lanka stands to benefit from an ASEAN membership is easier access to trading and investment opportunities in the region. Seeking membership of ASEAN is not an impossible task for Sri Lanka, however, it will have to think about the fact that it is geographically not a part of Southeast Asia, which is one major – though not untouchable – precondition.