Nepal Prime Minister to visit Sri Lanka for BIMSTEC summit

Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will be attending the 5th BIMSTEC Summit (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) in Sri Lanka, Foreign Ministry sources confirmed.

He is scheduled to attend the summit on March 30 in Colombo. The seven-nation BIMSTEC, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand was founded in 1997.

The much-awaited BIMSTEC or Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation will be hosted by Sri Lanka.

But it could also be conducted in a hybrid format, sources said adding that most of the member states have given a formal intimation over participation at the summit.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit is still not confirmed as to whether he will participate virtually or travel to Sri Lanka for the summit.

The Colombo Summit is expected  approve the BIMSTEC Charter, BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity and  BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters.

The group will also work towards finalisation of the BIMSTEC Coastal Shipping Agreement and the Motor Vehicles Agreement. (Bandula)