GL thanks Pakistan for consistent support

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris conveyed Sri Lanka's sincere thanks for the strong and consistent support extended by Pakistan, to the outgoing President Asif Ali Zardari when he met the latter at his office to hand the invitation to the Pakistani Head of State to attend the CHOGM 2013 to be held in Colombo from November 15 to 17.

He said on behalf of Presidnet Mahinda Rajapaksa he was thanking Pakistan for its strong support, first with regard to Sri Lanka's initiatives against terrorism and, at present, for the development and reconciliation process. He made particular reference to the assistance given by Pakistan, in its leadership role last year in the Organisation of Islamic Countries, at the Human Rights Council.

Prof. Peiris described to President Zardari the current developments in Sri Lanka, and the arrangements made to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in November. Co-operation between the two countries across the board were discussed at the meeting.

The Pakistani President said he was touched by President Rajapaksa's gesture of goodwill and referred to the challenges which the two countries had had to overcome in the recent past. He said that he greatly enjoyed working with the Sri Lankan leadership, and would continue to take an interest in our country's well-being. During his two-day visit to Pakistan, Minister Peiris called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and had meetings with the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, and Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.