ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe on the telephone on Monday agreed to continue the long-standing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, also pledging to strengthen ties between the two countries.
“I had the pleasure of speaking to H.E. Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, earlier today to thank him for his support to Pakistan during my meeting with MD IMF,” Mr. Shehbaz Sharif said.
Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to work together to fight poverty and promote economic growth and development for the benefit of the entire region, while he also told Mr. Wickremesinghe he wanted to help promote peace in the region as well as enhance connectivity through regional cooperation.
The Sri Lankan president thanked Mr. Sharif for “conveying warm sentiments on behalf of the people of Pakistan”.
Separately on his Twitter handle, the prime minister said that the ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka were underpinned by reservoirs of goodwill and good neighbourliness between the two countries.
Shehbaz Sharif recalled that Pakistan and Sri Lanka had been close allies and friends over decades, adding “I remember how a team of Sri Lankan doctors stayed in Lahore and helped the Punjab government deal with dengue epidemic which was devouring precious human lives in Lahore.” ‑‑APP
