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15th edition of SAARC has started in Sri Lankan capital Colombo. Mahendra Rajapaksa, the president of Sri Lanka, opening the ceremony said that the SAARC was at a historical moment as the region share common heritage and face common challenges like food security and counter-terrorism. Terrorism and food security this time are going to be high-key issues in the summit.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Bhutan Prime Minister Jigme Thinley, Bangladeshi Chief Advisor Fakhruddin Ahmed, Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani were present in the summit meeting.
Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, and the establishment of a SAARC Development Fund (SAARCDF) would be the issues to be discussed in the summit in next two days. Particularly, the need for SAARCDF has been realized for long time for the better facilitation of economic, social, and infrastructural developments.
