Pakistan and Sri Lanka are two important countries of South Asia and look forward
to further strengthening their multifaceted relations, the Prime
Minister stated during a call on him at Prime Minister’s House here on
Friday by the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. G.L. Peiris.
The Prime Minister encouraged Sri Lanka to move forward on
negotiations with Pakistan on Comprehensive Economic Partnership
Agreement (CEPA) and welcomed a meeting in this context between the two
countries in August in Colombo. Mr. Peiris is on a two day visit to
Pakistan as an envoy of the President of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has greatly suffered due to terrorism and so has Pakistan.
The countries of the region should remain committed to get rid of this
menace just as Sri Lanka has done. While making these remarks, the
Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the resolve of both Pakistan
and India to continue with their bilateral dialogue, and not get
deterred by terrorists’ designs to derail the dialogue once again.
Pakistan has strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai.
The Prime Minister placed great emphasis on peace in the region and
said that Pakistan wants to maintain friendly relations with all its
neighbours including India, Iran and Afghanistan. He stated that
stability in Afghanistan is most important. Pakistan supports an
Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of reconciliation in their country.
Pakistan looks forward to receiving the President of Sri Lanka Mr.
Mahindra Rajapakse in November this year. Together with President
Zardari’s visit to Sri Lank last year, such high level visits would
contribute to deepen bilateral relationship between the two countries,
the Prime Minister said. He also called for further expansion of trade
and commercial relations. He observed that it was important to hold
regular meeting of the Joint Economic Commission that met last week
after a gap of six years.
He emphasized that the two countries should cooperate with each
other in the fields of education, particularly training of nurses and
teachers. Collaboration between them in such sectors as cement, sugar,
pharmaceuticals and gems and jewellery would add a deeper dimension to
their relationship. Prime Minister Gilani also offered to assist Sri
Lanka in the preparations for hosting the Asian Games.
The Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Mr. Pieris, briefed the Prime
Minister on his country’s campaign against terrorism during the last 30
years and the current process of reconciliation, revival of leadership,
reconstruction of infrastructure as Sri Lanka’s priorities after its
success in rooting out terrorism from their country.
He agreed with the Prime Minister on the priority areas for
bilateral cooperation. A soft term credit loan from Pakistan would
enable Sri Lanka to forge cooperation in these sectors. The Prime
Minister advised the Foreign Minister to have in-depth meetings during
his stay in Pakistan with Chairman, Board of Investment as well as the
Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Karachi. The two countries need to
forge a strong economic partnership in order to realize their great
potential in various areas and sectors, he emphasized. SANA
