* Sri Lanka President visits Nepal
Monday, March 2, 2009, 15:27 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 02, Kathmandu: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Kathmandu today on a three-day official visit to Nepal.

Nepali Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav welcomed the President and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

President's visit on an invitation from his Nepali counterpart is the first by a head of state to Nepal since the Maoist-led government came to power following elections in April last year. President Rajapaksa met Nepali President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav at his official residence Rashtrapati Bhavan, Shital Niwas.

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris were also present. President Rajapaksa is scheduled to hold talks with the Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Foreign Minister Yadav on Tuesday (Mar 03). During his stay in Nepal, President Rajapaksa is expected to visit Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, and Anandakut Bihar. He will also visit the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu.

Picture by Sudath Silva