Lankan FM lauds Pakistan’s stance on terrorism
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—“Govt of Sri Lanka highly appreciates Pakistan’s stance n terrorism”. This was stated by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Bogollagama, at a press conference, here yesterday.
Speaking further, he said “Sri Lanka condemns terrorism in all its manifestations and forms. Our leaders have already lost their lives and time and again and have victim to terrorist attacks. Terrorism is extremism and cannot be tolerated in any society”. However, he stated, “the stance of government of Pakistan and President Pervez Musharrat in this regard has been highly laudable and government of Sri Lanka highly appreciates Pakistan’s this stance.
While addressing a press conference on Thursday evening at the end of his visit to Pakistan, he said that stance of President Musharraf regarding the terrorism is valid. Srilanka is facing the threat of Tamil tigers’ LTTE, while Pakistan has to face the threats of terrorism by extremists and militants. He said that terrorist attack was made on President Prima Dasa in 1999 and Prime Minister Chindraka Kamara Tunga like former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27 and equally shared the grief of Bhutto family, lauding late Benazir Bhutto as one of great leaders.
He further said that Pakistan and Srilanka have close relations in the fields of defense, economic, culture, including heath and education and Srilanka gives due importance to the stability of Pakistan adding that trade relations between two countries have improved fastly after the signing of agreement of free trade. He maintained that annual trade volume between Pakistan and Srilanka is amount to U$ 385 million and was targeted to one billion US dollar annually.
Citing his current meeting with PML-N Chief and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Srilankan foreign minister said that matters regarding better future of Pakistan, upcoming general elections were discussed with him because Srilanka wants the evolution of democratic norms in Pakistan for its everlasting stability. He said that Gwadar seaport was necessary for the economic uplift of Pakistan and the countries of region should have no concern over it but any country can express its reservations over the sea routs. Srilanka itself is working for the development and promotion of seaport.
Answering a question of Online, he replied that Pakistan was fulfilling its 60 percent requirements of oil and gas from its internal resources and has qualified and experienced experts in this field and Srilanka wanted to utilize this experience to enhance the exploration of oil and gas in sea and dry routes.
He said that negotiations were held with Pakistani officials in this regard and they have expressed this willingness over the provision of technical assistance in this regard. Replying to another question, he said that Srilankan government would provide assistance for the betterment of educational institutions and promotion of literacy ratio in Pakistan.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka reaffirming commitment to combat extremism and terrorism for preserving shared global values of peace, progress and prosperity have also agreed to work together to achieve the target of US$ one billion in bilateral trade in the next few years.s