President Rajapaksa meets Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif

[By Janaka Alahapperuma]
President Mahinda Rajapaksa met Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in New York City on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly on September 25. This is the first occasion both leaders met each other since Pakistani new leader Nawaz Sharif was elected for the third time as the Prime Minister at the General Election which was held in last June. The discussion between President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Sharif centered on the different ways Sri Lanka and Pakistan could further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the area of economic cooperation and security based on longstanding friendship.

Picture is seen the two leaders greet one another as they meet for bilateral discussions.

The Pakistani delegation included several high-profile officials including the Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Minister of Finance Ishaq Dar and the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Masood Khan.
The Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Dullas Alahapperuma, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Dr. Palitha Kohona and Additional Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Seneviratne were also present at the meeting.

Pix By: Sudath Silva