President in Male for SAARC Summit

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Male, the Maldives yesterday to attend the 17th SAARC Summit to be held from November 10 to 11 at the Hithadoo Convention Centre in Addu and the Fuvahmullah City on the theme ‘Building Bridges’.

This is the third SAARC Summit held in the Maldives which will be attended by Heads of State of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and the Maldives, said a press release by the President’s Media Division.

Several important topics having a bearing on the South Asian region will be considered at this Summit, where several mutual agreements are also due to be signed among the states.

Heads of State attending the summit were also due to hold several bi-lateral meetings among them on the sidelines of the summit.

An agreement pertaining to the setting up of a SAARC grains buffer stock will be among the agreements signed during this summit.

The foundation for co-operation among SAARC countries inhabited by nearly 25 percent of the world population was laid in 1985 according to a concept of the then Bangladesh President Zia-ur-Rahman.

Members of SAARC take action to develop co-operation in 16 sectors including cultural, power, environment, trade and commerce, security and tourism.