Pakistan Foreign Minister welcomes new Lankan High Commissioner Adm. Wijegunaratne

Adm. Wijegunaratne (right) with Jalil Abbas Jilani, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Source:Island

Pakistani Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani recently welcomed new High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne to Pakistan and noted the long standing brotherly friendship between the two countries since the time of Independence.

Jilani said that Pakistan signed an FTA with Sri Lanka in 2005, but bilateral trade needs to improve greatly. He ensured Pakistan’s commitment to support Sri Lanka in all international forums, especially at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

The Minister also acknowledged the very close and outstanding Military to Military relationship between two countries and Pakistan willingness to learn from Sri Lanka military in eradicating terrorist activities.

Wijegunaratne thanked Pakistan’s unconditional assistance both in military hardware and training to eradicate the LTTE menace. The new High Commissioner explained his commitment to enhance bilateral trade relations and his efforts to improve air connectivity between the two countries.

Wijegunaratne said he was a student at Pakistan Navy War College between 1995 and 96 and that he was a visiting lecturer to the same War College on Asymmetric Naval Warfare.Wijegunaratne is the only Sri Lankan recipient of Pakistan’s highest military honour – the Nishan-e-Imitiyaz (Military) medal in 2019.