Indian Foregn Ministry secretary Shiv Shanker Mennon hands over the chairmanship to Foreign secretary of Sri Lanka, Palitha Kohona

Foreign Secretary level Delegates from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka began discussing arrangements for the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, or SAARC, starting Saturday.

The official-level talks conclude Wednesday, and ministers will meet on Thursday to review the agenda for their leaders, officials said.

poverty

The meeting began with the appointment of Foreign ministry Secretary of the host nation Sri Lanka, Palitha Kohona being appointed as the chairman.

"Spiralling food and oil prices and ways to offset the burden imposed by these on our economies will also be discussed" at the two-day summit, an Indian foreign ministry official said.

Minister G. L. Pieris addressed the media to explain the aims of the summit. He said, The main focus would be uplift the lives of people living in the member states.

Terrorism

"Governments must intervene to eradicate poverty. All the member states had pledged to work towards acheiving a better life for the poor". the minister said.

Leaders are expected to set up the SAARC Development Fund and agree to extend mutual legal assistance and cooperation in combating terrorism, the minister said.

"We all agree that terrorism could not be defeated by one country alone. We need to join forces to to fight against terrorism which is a menace for all the members".