Pakistan, Sri Lanka to work for regional peace

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to increase collaboration to ensure regional peace and development.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between President Mamnoon Hussain and his Sri Lankan counterpart Maithripala Sirisena at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday morning. The heads of states of both countries decided to bolster their trade relations and make the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) more effective.

Mamnoon stressed the need for improved contacts between the people in both the countries. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan president thanked his Pakistani counterpart for awarding scholarships to the students and officers in Sri Lanka.

Earlier, during a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, it was decided that both the countries will diversify and deepen bilateral relations. Both sides expressed the hope that bilateral ties will continue to grow in future. The Sri Lankan president extended support for holding of SAARC Summit in Pakistan. Both the countries also signed three MoUs to enhance cooperation in the fields of youth development and training of civil and diplomatic personnel. The Sri Lankan president had arrived in Pakistan on March 23 (Friday).