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Pakistan H C reiterates pledges made by PM Imran Khan to enhance ties with Sri Lanka
High Commissioner Maj. Gen. Muhammad Saad Khattak and Deputy High Commissioner Tanvir Ahmad at the press briefing held at the High Commission (pic by Nimal Dayaratne)
By Ifham Nizam
The Pakistan High Commission in Colombo yesterday reassured that Pakistan would strengthen and enhance ties between the two countries as spelt out by their Prime Minister Imran Khan during his recent visit to Sri Lanka.
Pakistan High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Maj. Gen. (retd.) Muhammad Saad Khattak said Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa would grace the occasion when a high level delegation of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce visits here shortly for a confab.
Speaking to journalists, High Commissioner Khattak stressed that they would shift policies of geopolitics to geo-economics to enhance mutual trade benefits and bilateral trade, he added.
He recalled that the Pakistan Prime Minister had promised to find ways and means of promoting trade and connectivity with Sri Lanka, focusing on economics, social and academic ties.
The High Commissioner also said that rather than focusing on religious tourism alone there were plenty of others areas to explore.
Answering queries on Pakistan’s relief assistance to the people affected by floods, torrential rains, landslides and the Covid-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, the High Commissioner said he had visited Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Arugam Bay and distributed dry rations among the affected families.
The High Commissioner said they would also focus on infrastructure development and poverty alleviation programmes in the affected areas.
Some people were not aware of the offers when it came to education and economic development, the envoy noted, adding that about 1,000 scholarships were on offer for Sri Lankans and 100 for medicine.
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Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
The Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Russian House in Colombo unveiled a plaque at the public library Colombo today (29th April) in honour of the 80th anniversary of victory day.
Victory Day is celebrated on the 9th of May, the day Nazi Germany was defeated in World War II. It is an important date in the Russian calendar and an integral part of Russian culture.
The plaque was jointly unveiled by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka Lenav Dzhagaryan and Ms Maria Popova Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka and Director of the Russian House in Colombo
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Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Plan Implementation and Economic Development to grant policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for the said initial draft and appoint a special committee with the following composition to submit appropriate proposals for further enhancing after reviewing the initial draft:
• Hon. (Dr.) Anil Jayantha Fernando, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – (Chairman)
• Hon. Sunil Handunneththi Minister of Industries and Entrepreneurship
• Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Co – operative Development
• Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Sooriyapperuma Deputy Minister of Finance Plan Implementation
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Justice and National Integration to appoint Thilak Nandana Hettiarachchi, a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Administrative Service who served in the post of Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Buddha Shasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, to the post of Commissioner General of Official Languages with immediate effect.
Russian Embassy, Russian House, unveil plaque at Public Library in honour of 80th anniversary of victory day
Ministerial committee appointed to review and further enhance ‘State Commercial Enterprises Management draft bill’
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