Pakistan Prime Minister will be here on Tuesday

Imran Khan: Visit confirmed

Prime Minister Imran Khan will undertake a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka from February 23, the Pakistan High Commission said last night.

Mr. Khan will be visiting Sri Lanka – for the first time after assuming office -- on the invitation of Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including members of the Cabinet and senior officials.

The Prime Minister’s programme includes meetings with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Mr. Khan will also lead the delegation-level talks, covering all areas of cooperation between the two countries including trade and investment, health and education, agriculture and science & technology, defence and security, and culture and tourism. Besides bilateral matters, views will be exchanged on key regional and international issues, the High Commission said in a statement.

During the visit, the reconstitution of the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Association will be also announced to further promote parliamentary exchanges between the two countries.

The Prime Minister will also participate in a joint ‘Trade and Investment Conference’ aimed at promoting trade and investment between the two countries. A number of MoUs to enhance bilateral cooperation will be signed during the visit.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relations since 1948. The two countries share commonality of views on a wide range of international and regional issues. Both sides also work closely at the international and regional fora including the United Nations and SAARC.

The Prime Minister’s visit would help further strengthen the Pakistan-Sri Lanka relationship and enhance mutual cooperation in diverse fields, the High Commission statement said.

The visiting prime minister was earlier scheduled to address Sri Lanka’s parliament, but it was cancelled due to the tight itinerary.

Last week, Mr. Khan in a tweet welcomed Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s statement in parliament that burial would be permitted for Covid-19 victims. However, Government ministers later said the decision would be taken by a Health Ministry committee.

From March last year, Sri Lanka’s Muslims have been unsuccessfully demanding from the government that they be allowed to bury Muslims who die of COVID-19. The government’s refusal to permit burials is seen by activists here and abroad as a human rights violation.