Sri Lankan President postpones visit

Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa was scheduled to visit Pakistan from August 22.


Irfan Ghauri August 20, 2014

ISLAMABAD: With the federal capital deep in the throes of the ongoing political turmoil and uncertainty, Sri Lankan President has postponed his scheduled visit to Islamabad.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa along with a high level Sri Lankan delegation was scheduled to visit Pakistan from August 22. However the visit has now been put on hold, foreign office confirmed.

“It has not been cancelled. It is postponed,” FO spokesperson Tasneem Aslam told The Express Tribune. She said the visit was not formally announced however the government of Pakistan has advised the Sri Lankans to postpone it.

Sri Lankan President and his delegation were due to meet civilian and military leadership of the country during their visit.

Postponement of Sri Lankan President’s visit is a second blow for government of Pakistan during this week, after India cancelled foreign secretary level talks in Islamabad.

Thousands of protester of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehrik have gathered at D-Chowck on Constitution avenue, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The ongoing protests are entering the second week since the marchers started for Islamabad from Lahore on August 14.

Rajapakse's visit has been postponed at a time when Sri Lanka has come under fire from the UN for deporting Pakistani asylum seekers.

COMMENTS (13)

sharabi | 9 years ago | Reply

@Lk You need to update yourself about the current affairs, They were Sri Lankan

Rudra | 9 years ago | Reply

@Lk: Next time read those articles properly before spreading misinformation and lies. They are not indians. They are Srilankan Tamils who india allowed and gave them asylum to stay in india due to ethnic sympathy south india for Srilankan Tamil after Srilanka's war. But they left to Australia for better opportunities as india doesn't make them "indian" or give them indian passport or provide same economical benefits,aid benefit like indian citizens get from govt.They are left on their own to do business or earn till situation in their country betters off and they can move back. Unlike other countries(australia etc) that are bound to provide them economic and social benefits signed by them under UN refugee convention. India has no such compulsion as we have not signed UN refugee convention. So we have our own policy as to how to handle our refugees. ET please be fair and publish this.

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