COLOMBO, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka and Nepal agreed on Friday to develop Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as the most attractive and sacred tourist destination in the South Asia region during talks between the leaders of the two countries.

    Sri Lanka's Department of Government Information said in a statement that this was decided when Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

    Koirala arrived in the island on Friday to take part in the 15th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) summit to be held on Saturday and Sunday in Colombo.

    "President Mahinda Rajapaksa pointed out that he had made this proposal many years ago when he was only a member of parliament," said the statement.

    Koirala briefed Rajapaksa on the development of the Lumbini Airport and its importance in developing tourism in the area.

    Lumbini, the birthplace of Prince Siddhartha Gauthama, is held sacred by Buddhists all over the world, said the statement.

    The SAARC was established when its charter was formally adoptedon Dec. 8, 1985 by the heads of state or government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

    In April 2007, at the association's 14th summit, Afghanistan became its eighth member.