Colombo, August 1
The 15th SAARC summit begins here tomorrow amid unprecedented security with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of other seven South Asian nations set to sign four key agreements, including a mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters, that is expected to go a long way in tackling the menace of terrorism in the region.

The summit is being under the shadow of an upsurge in terrorist activities in the region, particularly in India, accentuating the need for a comprehensive common strategy by the SAARC nations to combat the scourge.

The SAARC Council of Ministers concluded its meeting this evening and finalised the agenda for the two-day SAARC summit. External affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee represented India at the meeting.

Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said the other three agreements likely to be signed by the SAARC leaders at the end of the summit are: charter of SAARC development fund, setting up of a SAARC regional standard organization and Afghanistan acceding to the South Asian free trade area (SAFTA).

Manmohan Singh, who arrived here today to a red carpet welcome, without wasting time started holding bilateral meetings with SAARC leaders. He met Sri Lankan President Mahenda Rajapaksa and discussed the row over fishermen and other matters.