The Prime Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Raza Gilani expressed his country’s firm support for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at bi-lateral talks that are part of the 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo, today (Aug 01).

At the meeting that took place at the Presidential Secretariat, President Mahinda Rajapaksa welcoming the new Pakistani Prime Minister, recalled Sri Lanka’s close relations between Sri Lanka and with Pakistan, with all its leaders and parties for a very long time.

Prime Minister Gilani, who recalled being taught by a Sri Lankan teacher in the Multan district of Pakistan, complemented Sri Lanka for its achievements in education, especially the high literacy rate in the country.

Both leaders observed that people to people contacts among the two countries were growing, and this included contacts among parliamentarians.

They also agreed that the Pakistan – Sri Lanka free Trade Agreement had led to enhanced trade between the two countries and on the considerable untapped potential for expanded trade in the future.

They discussed the actions that needed to be taken to ensure food security in the region, in the SAARC context.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Healthcare Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Export Development and International Trade Prof. G. L. Peiris, Minister of Transport Dullas Alahapperuma, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath, Additional Secretary to the Foreign Ministry Prasad Kariyawasamand Coordinating Secretary to the President Sajin Vas Gunawardena were in the Sri Lankan delegation.

The Pakistan delegation comprised of Foreign Minister M. S. Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Shahzad Aslam Chaudhry, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Siraj Shamsuddin, Additional Secretary to the Foreign Ministry Abdul Malik Abdullah, Director General South Asia Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhryand Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Faiz Kazi.