Pakistan and Sri Lanka are two important countries of the South Asian region that enjoy very cordial and friendly relations. They have also extended cooperation to each other in different sectors, and are keen on further strengthening their relation through frequent exchange of delegations at varying levels. 

Existing friendly relations and cooperation in different sectors were discussed at some length when Sri Lankan High Commissioner, Major General (Retd.) Loku Ketagodage Jayanath, called on Punjab Chief Minister the other day. 

According to the reports, the Chief Minister said that quite friendly relations exist between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and stressed the need for further increasing cooperation in health, education, and other social sectors. He also briefed the Sri Lankan High Commissioner about the revolutionary reforms being undertaken by the Punjab Government for rapidly improving health and education sectors for the overall wellbeing and welfare of the people throughout the province. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner while appreciating all this said that his country has good friendly relations with Pakistan, will increase cooperation with the Punjab Government in health and education sectors and also invited the Chief Minister to visit Sri Lanka at his convenience. 

Such exchanges of views at high level between two friendly countries certainly go a long way in promoting the existing cooperation, boosting trade relations, and further strengthening the existing ties besides sharing views on matters of bilateral interest and regional issues. Learning from the experiences of Sri Lanka in important sectors of health and education will surely help the Punjab Government in accelerating the process of further improvement in the two fields. 

Ahsan A.H. Shaikh, 

Lahore, September 25.