Nepal, Lanka to strengthen bilateral ties

Nepal and Sri Lanka are set to sign bilateral agreements, including direct air link between the two countries, during island nation's President Mahinda Rajapaksa's three-day visit to Kathmandu.

Rajapaksa, who is arriving here today, will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Prachanda tomorrow and also sign two agreements with him, according to an official at the Lankan Embassy.

Prachanda and Rajapaksa will ink a bilateral air service agreement that will pave way for establishing direct air-link between Kathmandu and Colombo. They will also sign a Joint Commission Agreement for the exchange of cooperation in the areas of education, culture and agriculture.

During his talks with Nepalese leaders, the Lankan President is also likely to learn from Nepal's experience in handling conflict and moving ahead with the peace process. Sri Lanka is also facing serious problem of internal conflict that has claimed over 30,000 lives over the past three decades.

Rajapaksa is also expected to meet his Nepalese counterpart Ram Baran Yadav and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala today. Yadav is hosting a dinner in the honour of Sri Lankan President this evening.