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P.R. No.109/2006

Date: 20/03/2006

Visit of the President of Sri Lanka to Pakistan

His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Hon'ble President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, will pay an official visit to Pakistan from 31 March – 2 April 2006.

He will be accompanied by Mrs. Rajapaksa, four Cabinet Ministers, Governor of a province and Members of Parliament.

During his stay, the Sri Lankan President will holds official talks with the President and meet the Prime Minister. During these talks the complete range of Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations will be discussed.

During the visit several agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed in order to strengthen the existing close bilateral relations in different sectors. The President of Sri Lanka will also visit Lahore and Karachi.

The visit of President H.E. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa is part of the regular high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It may be recalled that the former President of Sri Lanka Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga visited Pakistan in February 2005. Our President visited Colombo in July/August 2002 and the Prime Minister in November 2004 as the Chairperson of the SAARC.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have always enjoyed friendly relations. They have a similarity of views on regional and international issues. Our relationship is based on the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in each other's internal affairs and mutual respect. Pakistan and Sri Lanka have worked closely on the bilateral level as well as in international forums like the Commonwealth, NAM and SAARC.

Islamabad