Pakistan commits to strengthen relations with Sri Lanka

Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan and Sri Lanka have "tremendous scope" to further strengthen the bilateral economic and trade relations during his meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ravi Karunanayake, who was in Islamabad to attend the 8th Meeting of SAARC Finance Ministers.

Karunanayake along with Secretary to Finance Ministry Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga met with Dar on Saturday following the SAARC meeting on Friday, reports Radio Pakistan.

Dar said Pakistan Government will fully cooperate for expanding the bilateral economic ties with Sri Lanka while Karunanayake congratulated him on successful hosting of the SAARC Finance Ministers meeting and stated that decisions reached in the meeting will further strengthen the SAARC process.

Karunanayake also appreciated the exceptional economic performance of Pakistan over the past three years. He said the South Asian countries can learn a lot from the reform efforts in Pakistan, which have not only stabilized the economy in a short span of time but also put it on the path of growth.

Meanwhile three terrorists, who were allegedly involved in the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, were killed in a police encounter in Lahore on Sunday.

The attack had claimed the lives of seven police officials, and injured seven players including Mahela Jayawaredene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana and Chaminda Vaas.