SAARC Summit in Maldives:

President to leave for Male this week

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, leading the Sri Lankan delegation, will leave for Male, Maldives this week to attend the 17th SAARC summit to be held from November 10 to 11 at Hithadhoo Convention Centre in Addu.

Male is fully prepared to host the summit in its southern island city of Addu, HaveeruOnline reported.

The meetings of the Standing Committee comprising the Foreign Secretaries were held yesterday and will be held today. The Foreign Ministers of the SAARC countries will meet tomorrow, HaveeruOnline said.

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, government officials and several foreign dignitaries are now in Addu. Addu City Council Mayor Abdulla ‘Soabe’ Sodiq said accommodation and lodging have been arranged for the 5,000 plus visitors expected to arrive in Addu for the summit.