Sri Lankan President arrives Pakistan today on significant visit
Pakistan Times Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga arrives here today, Monday on a three-day official visit to discuss bilateral relations and international political situation with the Pakistani leadership.

She will also call on President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

The Topics

'Pakistan Times' understands that Pakistan and Sri Lanka will sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during the visit of Sri Lankan President.

Both the sides would sign the FTA to boost bilateral trade and enhance economic relations. He added that this vital trade pact would have been signed much earlier but there were minor technical hindrances that have been removed now.

The government’s top level decision making body in economic sphere, the Economic Coordination Committee, has already approved the signing of free trade pact between Islamabad and Colombo.

Another significance of the Sri Lankan President’s visit is that she arrives here at a time when regional cooperation received a blow in the shape of 13th SAARC Summit postponement owing to Indian refusal to attend the top level meeting, which was scheduled to be held in Dhaka on February 6 and 7.

Pakistan, disappointed at the Indian decision, would discuss this issue in detail with Sri Lanka during the visit of President Kumaratunga to Islamabad, sources said.

Of SAARC

Pakistan believes that New Delhi’s withdrawal from the summit was unjustified. He added that Sri Lanka is also perturbed over the Indian decision so it would be during the meetings of Pakistani officials and Sri Lankan President that ways and means would be discussed to transform SAARC into a vibrant regional body and ensure the holding of its meetings as per schedule.

President Kumaratunga would also discuss various other important issues with his Pakistani counterpart such as cooperation against terrorism, Pakistan-India peace process, latest situation in Iraq and Afghanistan etc.

"Kumaratunga will discuss regional and international situation with the Pakistani leadership," officials said Sunday.

The major focus, however, during her talks with the Pakistani leadership and officials will be on strengthening of bilateral relations, with particular emphasis on economic and commercial fields.

"She will also discuss the situation arising out of the postponement of SAARC Summit in Dhaka," officials say.●