Sri Lanka would not have defeated terrorism without Pakistan’s support: President

The Pakistani Parliamentary delegation led by Dr. Nafisa Shah, Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and Chairperson of National Commission for Human Development, paid a courtesy call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees in Colombo.

Other members of the delegation included the Speaker of Pakistan’s Punjab Assembly Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan and Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah. The High Commissioner of Pakistan in Sri Lanka Seema Ilahi Baloch also accompanied the Pakistani delegation.

Dr. Nafisa conveyed appreciation of the Pakistani Government, Parliament and people to the  President for the hospitality extended by people and the Government of Sri Lanka towards the Pakistani delegation.

She also commended the arrangements made by the Sri Lankan Government for organising the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in an impressive manner.

She said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka were historically bonded in a relationship of trust, mutual respect and deep friendship, which is manifested at all the phases of their histories.

President Rajapaksa noted that Pakistan extended unflinching support to Sri Lanka during the three-decade internal conflict and immensely helped in the elimination of the menace of terrorism from the Sri Lankan soil.

He said that Sri Lanka would not have eliminated the scourge of terrorism without the help and support of Pakistan, that Pakistan had proved to be a true friend of Sri Lanka, and the Sri Lankan Government as well as public had deep affection for Pakistan.

The two sides agreed to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and stressed upon the need to work closely in the regional and global context.

The 22-member Pakistani Parliamentary delegation is currently visiting Sri Lanka to participate in the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference in Colombo, which is being held from 11 to 15 September in Sri Lanka.