Aug 30, Teheran: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse and his delegation arrived at the Mehrabad International Airport in the Iranian capital Teheran Thursday to participate in the 16th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit.

President Rajapaksa was received by Iran's Minister of Justice, Morteza Bakhtiari and other high ranking Iranian officials.

The President is scheduled to address the summit during the morning session. During the two-day visit the President is also scheduled to hold talks with the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to review bilateral relations.

On the sidelines of the summit, the President will also hold discussions with the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and several other world leaders.

President's delegation included External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha, Irrigation & Water Resources Management Minsiter Nimal Siripala de Silva, Social Services Minister Felix Perera, Deputy Minister Neomal Perera, Parliamentarian Sajin Vass Gunawardena and Secretary to the president Lalith Weeratunga.

Several world leaders including the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, Presidents of Afghanistan and Pakistan, Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh, Emirs of Kuwait and Qatar have already arrived in Teheran to participate in the summit.

(Photos by Sudath Silva)