Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan arrives in Sri Lanka

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Sri Lanka today (23) on an official visit which focuses from politics to trade.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and cabinet ministers were at the Bandaranaike International airport at Katunayake to welcome the visiting Prime Minister.

He arrived on a Pakistani Airforce plane.

He is due to make a joint statement with Prime Minister Rajapaksa later Tuesday (23) and meet President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday (24).

He is also due to take part in  a Business and Investment Forum. He is accompanied by a high-powered business and investment delegation consisting of business leaders in Pakistan, mainly from the sectors of textile and apparel, pharmaceuticals, agro-food commodities, sports goods, gems and jewellery and  auto parts.

The Pakistani Premier was earlier scheduled to address Sri Lanka’s parliament, but the event was postponed on the grounds that due to the COVID-19 situation, preparations could not be made for the event due to staff restrictions.

Coinciding with the arrival, Muslims groups on Tuesday organised a protest opposite the President’s office demanding that the government lifts a ban on burial of persons whose deaths are caused by COVID-19.