Former Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda yesterday (29) called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his three-day official visit to Nepal.

The former Prime Minister commended Sri Lanka's humanitarian operations and stressed that the country was an example to the rest of the world. He appreciated the President's successful efforts in carrying out development work in the midst of fighting terrorism and overcoming challenges posed by the world's financial crisis.

President Rajapaksa stated that this visit will help strengthen cultural and social ties between the two countries which were prevalent from the ancient times.

In a press briefing after this meeting, the former Prime Minister stated that his party wished to learn from the Sri Lankan experience in the wake of the LTTE movement, especially about the rehabilitation of the Tamil Tigers, reported the Times of India. He also said that his party was interested in learning about education and healthcare from Sri Lanka.

The President was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal yesterday.

He will meet Nepalese President and Prime Minister and other senior leaders during his visit.

He is also due to visit Lumbini to inaugurate a monastery built by the Sri Lankan government.