M A I N   N E W S

Modi talks ‘strong SAARC’ with Rajapaksa, Hasina

New York, September 28
Furthering his “neighbourhood first” policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Bangladesh and Nepal and Sri Lankan President.

He discussed with them the matters of common concern, including terrorism, while affirming his commitment to make South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) a strong regional block.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala congratulated Modi on his first UN speech and promised full support for his initiative of having an International Yoga Day.

The three leaders also said they were looking forward to Modi’s visit to their respective countries, including for the SAARC summit in Nepal later this year.

Modi told Koirala that he was looking forward to visit Nepal and said he would like to go to Janakpur and Lumbini, the birthplaces of Sita and Lord Buddha, respectively. Modi also enquired about the status of bilateral projects he had announced during his Nepal trip.

The South Asian leaders congratulated India on its recent Mars Orbiter Mission and said they were looking forward to progress on SAARC satellite mission announced by Modi earlier.

After his nearly 30-minute meeting, Rajapaksa said: “The meeting was cordial and good. We talked about various issues.” This was the second meeting between the two leaders after Modi was sworn-in on May 26 this year. Rajapaksa had earlier met Modi in New Delhi after he travelled to India to attend his swearing-in ceremony.

Rajapaksa gave his support in writing to the Yoga initiative which would need to be ratified by the UN General Assembly by September 2015 for coming into effect. Hasina said she would not allow the soil of her country to be used for any kind of extremism and hoped that India would also reciprocate. — PTI

Promised full support

n Modi discussed with the leaders the matters of common concern, including terrorism, while affirming his commitment to make SAARC a strong regional block

n Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala congratulated Modi on his first UN speech and promised full support for his initiative of having an International Yoga Day