The Adviser on Foreign Affairs meets Sri Lankan Speaker, Parliamentary Delegation

The Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sartaj Aziz received a 41 member delegation from Sri Lanka, led by Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament, Mr. Karu Jayasuriya, at Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. The delegation included Minister for Buddhist Affairs and Justice, senior most Buddhist monks, civil servants and academicians.

The Adviser said that Pakistan greatly values its relation with Sri Lanka, which is based on cordiality and mutual respect. The Adviser appreciated commonality of views between the two countries on major regional and global issues. He welcomed tourists from Sri Lanka, particularly religious tourists, as Pakistan is home to centuries old Buddhist monuments and relics.

The Speaker thanked the Adviser for the hospitality accorded to the delegation and reciprocated the warm sentiments on cordial bilateral relations. He noted that the presence of valuable Gandhara civilization and monuments in Pakistan is a great asset for Buddhists from all over the world. He expressed keen desire for cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the subject of preservation of these archaeological sites and devising mechanism for promoting Sri Lankan tourists to Pakistan.

Islamabad
22 April 2016

158/2016