President meets Nepal’s leader

President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Nepal President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and held bilateral talks yesterday for nearly one hour in a cordial atmosphere at the Sheethal Nivas Rashtrapathi Bhavan, Kathmandu, a press release from the President’s Media Division said.

President Yadav thanked President Rajapaksa for the assistance accorded in developing the Lumbini world heritage site in Nepal.

President Rajapaksa said the Sri Lankan Government was prepared to give further assistance in conserving and developing Lumbini the most sanctified place for Buddhists and it was special privilege for the Sri Lankans to be able to assist.

The Nepalese President said he sought the counsel of President Rajapaksa in implementing reforms in his country and Sri Lanka’s development strategies after defeating terrorism would be a useful model for the people of Nepal to develop their own country, the release said.

President Rajapaksa said Nepal was a country blessed with abundant natural resources and as a friend of Nepal, Sri Lanka was prepared to give technological personnel assistance in development.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Additional Secretary Gamini Senerath and Foreign Relations Advisor Sachin Vas Gunawardhana were also present, the release said.