SAARC leaders here on July 31, August 1

Rajmi MANATUNGA

COLOMBO: All Heads of State and Government of the eight SAARC nations will arrive in Sri Lanka on July 31 and August 1 to take part in the 15th SAARC Summit scheduled for August 2 to 3.

Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will be the first to arrive in the island, followed by Bhutan Prime Minister Jigme Thinley. Bangladesh Chief Advisor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed and Maldives President Dr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom will be in the country on August 1, while Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani will participate in the Summit representing India and Pakistan respectively.

Representing SAARC’s youngest member Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai will take part in the Summit, marking his country’s first participation at the regional event.

This year’s Summit will be observed by seven States, namely, China, the European Union (EU), Iran, Mauritius, Japan, Korea and the United States.

The representatives of the Observer States who will take part in the main summit are Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Dawei, EU Director-Asia James Moran, Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Monoucher Mottachi, Mauritius Minister of Agro Industries and Fisheries Dr. Arvin Bolell, Korean Vice foreign Minister Kwon Jong Rak and Assistant Secretary to the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A. Boucher.