The heads of delegations from the seven member states--Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives-- as well as heads of diplomatic missions and Saarc officials, including Secretary General Chenkyab Dorji, attended the inaugural session.

After the inauguration, the meeting began discussions on how to implement the 18-point action plan drawn up at the first meeting in Dhaka in 1998 to develop information technology in the region and harness it to economic activities.

The meeting will decide on transnational satellite broadcasting, media exchanges and greater flow of information in the region through sharing of technological developments.

Also on the agenda are a Saarc film festival and a Saarc media development fund.

The recommendations of the meeting will be placed in the Saarc Summit in Dhaka in November.

In his welcome address, Information and Communications Minister of Nepal Tanka Dhakal said that Nepal will press for mutually shared information on criminal activities to combat terrorism that has become a major "irritant" in the region.

Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Information and Media Cegu Isadeen and Bangladesh's Infor-mation and Communications Secretary Md Mahabubar Rahman are representing their respective countries.