President mahinda meets Nepali PM Pushpa kamal in New York

President mahinda meets Nepali PM Pushpa kamal in New York

The newly elected Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal met President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (24), in New York on the sidelines of the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly currently in progress at the UN headquarters. Prime Minister Dahal in his discussion with President Rajapaksa stated that the Government of Nepal is fully committed to working towards achieving the expected goals of the SAARC as arrived at during the recently concluded 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo. While both parties agreed on initiating an air route between Lumbini and Colombo, Sri Lanka also expressed willingness to help train Nepali students at Sri Lankan medical institutions and extending cooperation to the Government of Nepal in upgrading their health sector. Another decision was reached at the discussion to grant Nepali Bhikkus an opportunity to pursue their higher studies in Sri Lankan academic institutes.

India-US in last nuclear push

Indian PM Manmohan Singh is due to meet US President George Bush amid frantic efforts to win US Congressional support for the two countries' nuclear deal.

The controversial accord needs to be rushed through Congress before lawmakers conclude this year's session to campaign for November's elections.

Correspondents say its ratification will be a complicated process.

US officials hope Congress will approve the deal before the two leaders meet later on Thursday in Washington.

Congress goes into recess at the end of this week.

"We will not let the Tamil community be held hostage to terrorism" -- President Mahinda Rajapaksha tells UN

"We will not let the Tamil community be held hostage to terrorism" -- President Mahinda Rajapaksha tells UN

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, addressing the 63th Session of the United Nations in New York today (24), said "the Government would not and cannot let an illegal and armed terrorist group, the LTTE, to hold a fraction of the population, a part of the Tamil community, hostage to such terror in the northern part of Sri Lanka and deny those people their democratic rights of dissent and free elections."

The President, who pointed out that terrorism is a fast spreading phenomenon, observed that the United Nations has a grave responsibility to save today's and succeeding generations, from this new and continuing menace.