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From Ranga Kalansooriya in Kathmandu

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando and his Indian counterpart Jaswant Singh yesterday agreed to hold the much delayed meeting of the Indo-Lanka Joint Commission.

The two ministers had bilateral talks at Saulte Hotel in Kathmandu yesterday.

Minister Singh accepted the invitation of Minister Fernando to hold the meeting in Colombo soon. The Commission which has not met since 1998, covers a range of issues like trade, education, culture and industries.

During their talks the two ministers briefed each other about the situations in India and Sri Lanka. Minister Fernando has briefed Mr. Singh about the latest developments on the peace process in Sri Lanka.

The Indian Foreign Minister has articulated to Mr. Fernando the issue of cross-border terrorism in India and the tense situation on the border.

"We have a great deal of understanding with each other which is necessary for the peace initiative in our country," Minister Fernando told the Daily News.

On Wednesday a dinner was hosted in honour of Minister Fernando by Nepali Opposition MP and former Minister Pashupati Rana who was the Treasurer of the Oxford Asian Students Union when Mr. Fernando was its President.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and her delegation was flown into Kathmandu by a direct special SriLankan Airlines flight from Colombo last evening.

She will hold bilateral talks with all other South Asian leaders during the Summit, Sri Lankan Ambassador in Nepal Mrs. Pamela Jayasekera Deen told the Daily News.

The seven leaders of the South Asia will commence their deliberations this evening (4) in the Capital of Himalayan Kingdom, Kathmandu aiming on regional peace, social welfare and economic development.

Issues like suppression of terrorism, poverty alleviation, women and child welfare and human resources development will top their agenda.

The chilling Himalayan capital has already been heated up by the tension between the two nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan with attention being drawn to the two leaders who are expected to meet each other during the Summit.

The Summit has attracted a considerable degree of media coverage due to the Indo-Pak leaders' meeting. Hundreds of international journalists have come to this Himalayan Kingdom to witness a possible `hand shake' between the two rival leaders.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Maldives President M. Abdul Gayoom and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyompo Khandu Wangchuk arrived yesterday while Pakistani President General Pervez Musharaff and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khalida Zia were due in Kathmandu this morning.

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