It's a pleasure to be back in Sri Lanka: PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka, said he “enjoyed the welcoming hospitality” and “gala dinner” hosted by the Lankan premier.

“It's a pleasure to be back in Sri Lanka again,” PM Imran wrote on the microblogging site, Twitter, on Tuesday.

“My earlier two visits were on cricket tours in '75 & '86 where I witnessed the evolution of Sri Lankan cricket, he said.

While sharing details about his one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Premier Imran said: “We had interesting conversations on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.”

The visiting premier also shared his second day of engagements on his official Twitter handle, saying: “Tomorrow I will be meeting the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa followed by a meeting with the Sri Lankan business community.”

“We shared a common problem of terrorism. Pakistan suffered the worst form of terrorism... Sri Lanka also combated terrorism for 30 years and Pakistan played its part to help the country,” PM Imran said during a joint press conference.

Also read: Colombo visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties: PM

He said both the nations are now also facing the common issue of coronavirus pandemic and added that he discussed ways with his Sri Lankan counterpart as to how poor countries can get debt suspension relief from the developed world.

The two leaders affirmed resolve to strengthen relations in diverse areas during the meeting. The two sides focused on strengthening ties in areas of trade and investment, health, education, agriculture and science & technology, security, culture and tourism.

PM Imran while inviting Sri Lankan Buddhist community to visit Pakistan said the country has probably one of the greatest tourist heritages in the world and it has recently discovered the remains of a 1,700-year-old sleeping Buddha.