SAARC heads of government begin arriving for 18th summit meeting

Presidents of Sri Lanka and Afghanistan-Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai-have arrived here to attend the 18th Saarc summit.

Bhutan's Prime Minister, Tshering Togbay, has also arrived to attend the summit.

President Rajapaksa landed at around 10.15 a.m. local time, while President Ghani arrived at around 11 a.m. Both were received by Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Prakash Man Singh and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), reports the Kantipur Online web site.

Soon after his arrival, President Rajapaksa flew Lumbini in a Nepal Army chopper to offer prayers at Mayadevi Temple, said to be the place where Lord Buddha was born over 2500 years ago. He will also take part in other programmes in the district before returning to Kathmandu later today.

The President of Maldives Abdulla Yameen is expected to arrive shortly, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive between 3 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to arrive at 3.35 p.m., while Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected at 4.15 p.m.