PM Nawaz arrives in Sri Lanka for three-day official visit

Several trade agreements are likely to be signed by both sides

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Sri Lanka on a three-day visit to oversee signing of several bilateral agreements in various sectors, Radio Pakistan reported on Monday.

PM Nawaz, who has been invited by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, will meet distinguished parliamentarians, religious leaders and businessmen during the visit. He will also address a gathering of ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials, top traders and members of the diplomatic corps.



According to reports, the premier is accompanied by Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir, Defence Production Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, PM’s Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasir Janjua among other senior government officials.

Further, the Pakistani and Sri Lankan premiers are also scheduled to hold official talks at a state banquet and sign a number of cooperation agreements in various fields afterwards. Bilateral agreements in the sectors of health, science and technology, trade, statistics, gems and jewellery, culture, money laundering and terrorism financing are to be signed during his visit. Many more business pacts, including some on deep-sea fishing, cement, power, education and food, are likely to be agreed.

Earlier, upon his arrival, PM Nawaz was received by Sri-Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Shriyan Wickremesinghe accompanied by his foreign minister and high officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport.



Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy friendly and cordial ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1948. Being members of Saarc and Commonwealth, both the countries coordinate with each other on issues of common interest, and regional and international concerns.

The official welcoming ceremony presided by the Sri Lankan president will be held on January 5 at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo.