Pakistani Leader due here to felicitate President

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will make a high profile and lengthy state visit to Colombo later this month, after the second swearing in of President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 19.

The Pakistani Leader will be the first Head of State to visit Sri Lanka after the President assumes duty in his second term of office.

Diplomatic sources said one objective of his trip is to congratulate President Rajapaksa on his second swearing in. Pakistan is one of the countries in the region where Sri Lanka maintains very strong bi-lateral relations. Their contribution to the country’s war against LTTE terror was magnanimous. The Foreign Ministry said the dates and the program of his visit are still being finalised. However, the itinerary will include bi-lateral meetings between the two Presidents and the Foreign Minister. MF