Pakistan’s army chief arrives

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif is arriving in Sri Lanka, this afternoon, on a long overdue visit, on the invitation of his Sri Lankan counterpart Lieutenant General A W J C De Silva. The 4 day visit will be General Sharif’s first visit to Sri Lanka. General Raheel Sharif will be received at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General A W J C De Silva, High Commissioner of Pakistan Maj Gen ® Shakeel Hussain and Defence Attaché Col Muhammad Rajil Irshad Khan. During his stay in Sri Lanka, General Raheel Sharif will meet the President of the Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka HE Maithripala Sirisena and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. General Sharif will also meet the top leadership of Sri Lanka’s Armed forces. The visit of Pakistan’s Army Chief will provide both sides with an opportunity to review ongoing cooperation and collaboration, and to discuss ways to further broaden and deepen this relationship. General Raheel Sharif is Pakistan’s 15th Army Chief and carries with him a vast experience of Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. He was commissioned in 6th Battalion of the Frontier Force Regiment in 1976. He has been holding the appointment of the Chief of Army Staff since November 2013. Since independence, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have consistently maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relations. Both nations have assisted each other during testing times in their history. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have comprehensive and mutually beneficial training collaboration for Army, Navy and Air Force. Over a period of time, a strong bond of commitment and mutual understanding has been reached between both the countries. Both the brotherly countries are committed to work more closely in all fields to boost cooperation and peace efforts in the region.