He said Pakistan is cooperating with Sri Lanka in the defence sector and the two countries will work together to choke financial assistance to terrorists.
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“We now look forward to welcoming President Sirisena to Pakistan at an early date so that relations of mutual trust and confidence can be further enhanced”, PM Nawaz said as he invited Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena to Pakistan.
Besides attending a banquet to be hosted by the Sri Lankan President and lunch by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will also address a gathering of Ministers, parliamentarians, senior Officials, top business persons and members of the diplomatic corps.
Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said that, according to reports, the Sri Lankans had left with their families, including women and children.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday commenced his three-day-long visit to Sri Lanka by launching a publication on tourism promotion of his country.
The island’s closest neighbour India withheld arms and ammunition during the height of Colombo’s war with Tamil rebels, who have close cultural and religious links with the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The two governments have maintained high-level bilateral interactions, including President Maithripala’s visit to Pakistan from April 5-7 previous year.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Maj. This is frustrating because Sri Lanka being the first country Pakistan signed an FTA with, the growth in trade between the two remains unimpressive.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said the country’s gem exports had increased by 135%, from $70 million in 2010 to $165 million in 2014.
During his stay in Sri Lanka, Sharif will visit the historic city of Kandy.
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National anthems of the two countries were played. Their diplomatic relations were established in 1948.
