COLOMBO, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The forthcoming South Asian regional summit will showcase Sri Lanka's stability, Sri Lankan foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama told reporters here Saturday.

    The inauguration of the two-day 15th summit of the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is scheduled for Aug. 2 where Heads of Governments of eight SAARC nations -- Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan will be present.

    The SAARC will begin its preparation meeting on Sunday with the participation of senior officials from the member countries.

    However, the Sri Lankan foreign minister said the government was concerned on the security for the summit.

    Police authorities said earlier that 12,000 strong security personnel will be deployed for the summit.

    The summit will focus on anti-terrorism drive, Bogollagama said, adding that Sri Lankan government is battling against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

    Escalation of armed conflict in the island has led to concerns on the level of security stability but the government headed by President Mahinda Rajapakse has expressed confidence that they are able to tame the rebels' threat through its present military campaign.

    The LTTE has been fighting against the government since the mid-1980s to establish an independent homeland for the island's minority Tamils, which led to the death of more than 70,000 people.