Sri Lanka seeks deeper trade ties with Pakistan

LAHORE: Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Rear Admiral (r) Fred Senevirathne has said that the historic economic ties between the two countries are set to reach new heights. He was addressing members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).

The envoy said the current Sri Lankan government had effectively addressed challenges such as poor governance, economic mismanagement and corruption. As a result, he noted, the country’s foreign exchange reserves, currency and tourism sector are now stable. He added that Sri Lanka’s key ports, including Colombo, Hambantota, Galle and Trincomalee, are among the busiest in the region.

He invited Pakistani businesses to explore joint ventures and partnerships with Sri Lankan counterparts to further strengthen economic linkages.LCCI President Mian Abuzar Shad, speaking on the occasion, regretted that the full potential of trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan remained largely untapped. He said that despite identifying several areas of cooperation — including tourism, education, defence and information technology — during previous high-level meetings, significant efforts were still required to fully realise this potential. He also called for stronger institutional collaboration between major chambers of commerce in both countries.