President to hold talks with SAARC leaders

Rasika SOMARATHNA

COLOMBO: On the sidelines of the 15th SAARC Summit, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to hold meetings today and tomorrow with both Heads of Government\State of several member countries and delegation leaders of observer countries.

According to sources, President Rajapaksa is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of Nepal Girija Prasad Koirala, Premier of Bhutan Lyonpo Jigmi Y. Thinley and Bangladesh Chief Advisor Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed.

In the afternoon, the President is to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Monoucher Mottachi, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai.

In the evening, Minister of Agro Industries and Fisheries of Mauritius Dr. Arvin Bolwell and Pakistan Premier Makhdoom Syed Yosuf Raza Gilani is set to hold talks with the President.

On Sunday afternoon, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for China Wu Dawei is scheduled to meet the President and Asst. Secretary, Bureau of South an Central Asian Affairs of USA Richard A Boucher is scheduled to follow next.

Also Vice foreign Minister of Korea Kwon Jong-Rak is to meet the President in the evening followed by Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura. Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom is set to meet President Rajapaksa on Monday.