Foreign Minister visits Colombo and meets with Sri Lankan Leadership

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi called on Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on 2 December 2019.

During the meetings, the Foreign Minister highlighted the importance that Pakistan attaches to its relations with Sri Lanka, which are rooted in history and characterized by friendship and cordiality. The Foreign Minister underscored that the relations between the two countries are time-tested and have gained strength in all spheres and domains with the passage of time. He expressed the confidence that under the current leadership of Sri Lanka, the abiding ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will reach new heights.

The Foreign Minister, while highlighting Pakistan’s efforts towards economic diplomacy, said that there existed immense potential and vast opportunities to enhance bilateral trade and investments, which would be further beneficial for the two countries and peoples.

The Foreign Minister added that it was a matter of immense pleasure that after the visit of Sri Lankan cricket team to Pakistan, the international cricket was returning to the country.The people of Pakistan were now looking forward to the upcoming tour of Sri Lankan team to play two test matches in Rawalpindi and Karachi.

The Foreign Minister formally handed over the invitation letters from President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to visit Pakistan at the date and time convenient to them.

The Sri Lankan leadership expressed warm gratitude to the leadership and people of Pakistan for extending felicitations and best wishes to the new Government of Sri Lanka and emphasized that they looked forward to further cementing the already strong and brotherly ties between the two countries.