Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday reaffirmed the strong fraternal relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka stressed upon the importance of regular high-level exchanges in strengthening bilateral coopera-tion.
The prime minister was talking to Minister of Trade of Sri Lanka, Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana and State Minister for Regional Cooperation, Tharaka Balas-uriya who paid a courtesy call on him. Dr. Gun-awardhana and Balasuriya along with a Sri Lankan business delegation are currently visiting Pakistan, PM office media wing said in a press release.
Fondly recalling his visit to Sri Lanka in February last year, the prime minister appreciated the initia-tive of Dr. Gunawardhana to visit Pakistan along with a business delegation.
He emphasized that all efforts must also be made to increase bilateral trade relations through making optimal use of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka FTA.
Referring to the strong cultural bond between Paki-stan and Sri Lanka, the prime minister invited the attention of the visiting delegation on the rich Bud-dhist heritage of Pakistan, and expressed the hope that more Sri Lankans would come to the country for religious tourism.
Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana thanked the prime min-ister for extending warm hospitality and goodwill towards Sri Lanka.
He expressed keen desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan in diverse areas of trade, ICT, phar-maceuticals, minerals, textiles, education, defence, tourism, human resource development through B2B contacts, joint ventures, investments in high poten-tial sectors and technology transfers etc.—APP
