Kathmandu - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu at the start of a three-day official visit Monday amid tight security.

The visit is the first by a head of state to Nepal since the Maoist-led government took over following elections victory in April last year.

Rajapaksa, who is in the Himalayan nation on the invitation of Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, is accompanied by his wife Shiranthi.

The Sri Lankan president and Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will hold bilateral talks on issues related to trade, investment, tourism, agriculture, aviation and other feasible areas where the two countries can cooperate with each other, the Nepalese foreign ministry said.

Rajapaksa will also meet with Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, other high ranking government officials and prominent Nepalese politicians.

He is schedule to travel to Lumbini in southern Nepal, considered the birthplace of Buddha.

The Nepalese government has tightened security across Kathmandu. Sri Lanka has been embroiled in a civil war with ethnic Tamil rebels who have employed bombings and other terror tactics inside and outside the country.

Armed Nepalese police officers were deployed at major intersections and along the route the Sri Lankan president was scheduled to take during his stay in the city.

The Nepalese government said about 1,500 police and soldiers had been deployed to provide security for the visiting president and his delegation.

Police have also stepped up checks of motorists and are frisking motorcyclists. (dpa)