Nov 10, Addu City, Maldives: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today met with the heads of state of South Asian countries participating in the 17th South Asian Association of Regional cooperation (SAARC) in the Addu City of Maldives and held bilateral discussions on issues important to the region.

In his discussions with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Shangri La Hotel in the Addu Atoll Thursday, President Rajapaksa has discussed Sri Lanka's ethnic issue and the alleged attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy.

The two leaders have discussed Sri Lanka's political process for ethnic reconciliation and resettlement of displaced Tamils still remaining in camps as well as the progress on the projects funded by India in Northern Province.

President Rajapaksa met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday on the sidelines the Summit and discussed further expanding of bilateral relations between the two nations in different fields, especially in trade, security, culture, and public cooperation.

The President has thanked the Pakistan and Premier Gilani for returning the relics of Buddha, and said the exchange had promoted cultural relations between the two countries and enhanced the strong relations between the peoples of the two countries.

In his discussion with the Nepali Premier Baburam Bhattarai, President Rajapaksa has highlighted the importance of recommencing the air service between the two countries.

The Nepal PM has said that his Minister of Foreign Affairs is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka in February to discuss the necessary steps to be taken to implement the air service between Colombo and Kathmandu.
The two leaders also have agreed to appoint a committee, representing officials from both countries, to renovate Buddhist sacred places including Kusinara, Lumbini, Saranath and Bodhgaya. They have also talked about the current power and energy crisis in Nepal and solutions which could be found from the Sri Lankan model.

During discussions with the Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, the President has briefed the Afghan leader about the development brought about in the country after eliminating terrorism. Karzai has hailed Sri Lanka's progress and called for close cooperation in the region to eliminate terrorism from the region. The two leaders have focused on enhancing bilateral ties between Colombo and Kabul in several different perspectives.
 

Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigme Y. Thinley also called on the Sri Lankan President on the sidelines of the Summit.

President, Indian Premier focus on fishing issues

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh yesterday focused on issues related to fishermen when they met at Shangri-la hotel in Villingili, Maldives on the sidelines of 17th SARRC Heads of State Meeting that commenced yesterday.

It was upheld at the bilateral discussion between the two leaders that this issue concerning fishermen can be solved amicably. Both leaders had a lengthy discussion on how this issue could be solved.

President Rajapaksa pointed out that 43,700 fishing boats from Southern India have engaged in poaching during the past 10 months and drew the Indian Prime Minister’s special attention to problems faced by fishermen in the northern region.

The Indian Prime Minister was also briefed on the achievement made by the government in respect of resettling Internally Displaced Persons in the Northern region.

President Rajapaksa said that these people need to be provided permanent houses and detailed steps taken by the government to provide houses to the IDPs.

They also discussed the construction activities and the progress of the coal power plant at Sampur.

A number of issues concerning the two countries and the region also came under discussion.

External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peries, Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, Traditional industries and Small Enterprise Minister Douglas Devananda and Parliamentarians Sajin Vass Gunawardena, A.H.M. Azwer, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Maldives Dickson Dela were also present.

Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa also met Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley on the sidelines of 17th SAARC Summit in Addu city, Male yesterday.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here on Thursday on the sidelines of 17th SAARC Summit and discussed bilateral relations.

Both the leaders agreed to further expand and strengthen their ties in different fields, especially in rade, security, culture and people-to-people contacts. Prime Minister Gilani also exchanged views on the working of SAARC and said that there was a need to make this organisation more active for the benefit of the people of area and to promote trade and economic activities in the region.

The President of Sri Lanka while thanking Pakistan and Prime Minister Gilani for returning the relics of Buddha, said that it had promoted cultural relations between the two countries.

He said this gesture of Pakistan had enhanced the strong relations between the peoples of two countries and would play an important role in further strengthening bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Interior Minister Rehman Malik were also present in the meeting