Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy excellent relations and there is strong political will on both sides to promote cooperation in diverse fields.

He said this while talking to Sri Lankan Minister for Irrigation and Water Management Nimal Siripala De Silva‚ who called on him in Islamabad on Friday.

Mr. Nirmal is visiting Pakistan as special envoy of the President of Sri Lanka.

Prime Minister said that there are vast opportunities for increasing the bilateral trade and the both sides should make efforts to enhance the volume of the trade in order to achieve maximum benefits. Both sides should work towards concluding Comprehensive Economic Policy Agreement (CEPA) by 2016 and encourage the private sectors to invest in each other’s economies, PM added. He also stressed to make Free Trade Agreement between the two countries more conducive by increasing the volume of trade.

PM recalled his meetings with Sri Lankan President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa in New York and in Colombo and hoped that the Summit level contacts will help in further boosting the relations. PM assured of continued support of Sri Lanka at International forums.
Prime Minister also extended an invitation to Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit Pakistan.

Mr. Nimal Siripala De Silva, Minister for Irrigation and Water Management of Sri Lanka reciprocated the warm greetings of the PM and said that the relations between the two countries will further enhance due to keen interest of both the Pakistani and Sri Lankan leadership. – Pakistan Tribune