Kathmandu, Nov 25 (IANS): Leaders from member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are arriving here Tuesday for a regional summit and security has been tightened in the Nepalese capital.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the first among the eight heads of state or government landing in Kathmandu Tuesday.

The leaders will attend the 18th SAARC summit Wednesday and engage in bilateral talks with nine observer countries during the two-day meeting.

Officials said the leaders will fly to Dhulikhel, 30 km southeast of Kathmandu, for an informal retreat Thursday before the closing ceremony of the summit, according to Xinhua.

The South Asian leaders are expected to sign three agreements on motor vehicles, railways and energy cooperation, which are aimed at deepening regional cooperation under the theme of "Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity".

Foreign ministers arrived in Kathmandu for a ministerial meeting Tuesday.

The ministers discussed and reached concrete decisions on issues of common interest, and gave the final touches to a declaration expected to be adopted at the summit.

Laxmi Dhakal, spokesperson of Nepal's ministry of home affairs, said the government has taken all measures to ensure the safety of more than 350 visiting guests.

The Nepal government has deployed over 28,000 security personnel from the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and National Intelligence Department in the Kathmandu valley.

This is the largest deployment of security forces after the Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal in November 2013.

More than 200 surveillance cameras have also been installed across the capital.

"Quality CCTVs have been installed at areas where leaders will travel through," Dhakal said. "Traffic activities will be constantly monitored."