By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, visited Sri Lanka on 3-4 February 2023 at the invitation of the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister to participate as a ‘Special Guest’ on the 75th Independence Day celebrations that included a cultural event and Independence Day ceremony, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The Minister of State held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister,  M.U.M. Ali Sabry and called on the President of Sri Lanka,  Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Prime Minister, Mr. Dinesh Gunawardena. She extended felicitations from the people and Government of Pakistan on the occasion of Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence Day, said the ministry in a statement.

In her meeting with the President of Sri Lanka,  Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Minister of State conveyed Pakistan’s best wishes for the progress and prosperity of Sri Lanka. The President reciprocated the warm wishes and underscored that her participation in Independence Day celebrations was reflective of fraternal relations between the two countries.

During meeting of the Minister of State with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, it was agreed to further advance close, cooperative bilateral ties and strengthen high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Minister of State  Hina Rabbani Khar and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Hon. Ali Sabry discussed a range of issues of mutual concern in trade and investment, defence, education, and health. They expressed satisfaction over the trajectory of bilateral relations and agreed to strengthen multidimensional cooperation and promote people-to-people contacts.

In Colombo, the Minister of State also held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, and the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Shunsuke Takei and discussed areas of bilateral cooperation and understanding.