ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain has said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka will continue to extend cooperation to each other for regional peace and security.
“We attach great importance to our friendly and cordial relations with Sri Lanka who has always been a trustworthy friend,” the president said while talking to a Sri Lankan delegation led by the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army Lt. General A.W.J.C De Silva at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Thursday.
The president said that both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are very close and fully support each other at the international fora.
![President Mamnoon Hussain talking to a Sri Lankan delegation led by the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army Lt. General A.W.J.C De Silva at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on May 04, 2017.](https://dnd.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Mamnoon-Hussain-and-Commander-of-the-Sri-Lankan-Army-Lt.-General-A.W.J.C-De-Silva.jpg)
President Mamnoon hoped that this cooperation will further expand in future and emphasized the need to increase cooperation in the fields of education, trade and culture besides defense. Therefore, he added that there is a need for regular exchange of high level delegations between the two countries in order to explore new avenues of cooperation.
While highlighting the issue of Indian occupied Kashmir, the president said that international community should take notice of human rights violations by India in the occupied valley and it should also play it role in resolving this issue.
Mamnoon Hussain said that Pakistan is center of Buddhist civilization and religious tourism between the two Countries can be further promoted in this regard.
The president expressed his goodwill and well wishes for his Sri Lankan Counterpart Maithripala Sirisena, Sri Lankan government and the people.
On the occasion, the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army said that Sri Lanka also attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and is keen to promote bilateral ties in all sectors including defense.