Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala and Culture Minister Minendra Rijal received Rajpasksa and his delegation at the Tribhuvan International Airport.
This is the second visit of Rajapaksa to Nepal. He was in a state visit in March this year. But he had to cut short his visit after Sri Lankan cricketers were attacked in Pakistan. Rajapaksa is visiting Lumbini to inaugurate a Sri Lankan monastery Friday.
Security has been beefed up in Kathmandu and Lumbini in view of his visit. He is visiting Lumbini in an army helicopter.
He is scheduled to meet President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and other political leaders.
Prime Minister Nepal and his wife Gayatri are hosting a dinner on Friday in honor of Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan delegation.
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