Lanka, Pakistan consultations to be held on regular basis
Pakistan and Sri Lanka held Foreign Secretary-level Bilateral
Political Consultations in Colombo yesterday. Foreign Secretary Jalil
Abass Jilani led the Pakistan side, while Sri Lanka was represented by
Foreign Secretary Tilakaratne Amunugama during the talks.
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Foreign Secretary Tilakaratne Amunugama meeting Pakistan
Foreign Secretary Jalil Abass Jilani |
The talks focused on gamut of issues encompassing the entire spectrum
of bilateral relations and the two sides had detailed exchange of views
on a number of issues of mutual interest.
It was agreed that the consultations should be held on a regular
basis.
Appreciating the significant increase in bilateral trade since the
signing of the Free Trade Agreement, it was agreed that taking advantage
of mechanisms in place, efforts will be made to further explore new
avenues of businesses and diversify the relation to include investments
and services sector as well in future.
In addition to the existing fully-funded scholarships Pakistan offers
to the Sri Lankan students in medicine, engineering, pharmacy and
dentistry, the Foreign Secretary offered scholarships to Sri Lankan
students in prestigious agricultural institute of Pakistan.
Following the talks, the two Foreign Secretaries signed a Memorandum
of Understanding between The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of
International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) and the
Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSL). |
