Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Friday agreed to expedite the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and to schedule the next meeting of their Joint Economic Commission in the first quarter of 2005. The decisions came at the first Foreign Secretary-level bilateral consultations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka here.
Pakistan's delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, while Sri Lankan team was led by its Foreign Secretary S. Palihakkara.
Both the sides also reviewed ongoing co-operation in other areas and discussed co-operation in tourism and archaeology.
A proposed agreement on scientific and technical co-operation, strengthening the cultural exchange programme, air services negotiations, a proposed MoU on co-operation between the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP), a proposed agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and the transfer of sentenced people also came under discussion.
It was also agreed that both the sides would benefit from exploring possibilities for employment of Sri Lankan professionals in Pakistan.
Sri Lanka thanked Pakistan for increased scholarships for its students in Pakistan and for training of its diplomats in the Foreign Service Institute of Pakistan.
On matters relating to regional co-operation, Sri Lanka appreciated Pakistan's effective chairmanship of Saarc and both agreed that collective contributions towards furthering regional co-operation should be made.
In the spirit of co-operation and friendship between the two countries and as a gesture of goodwill, the foreign secretary of Pakistan announced the gift of an ultrasound scanner for the Children Ward of the Cancer Hospital, Maharagama and an ambulance for the Health Ministry.
It was also agreed to continue meetings of the foreign secretaries annually and to further strengthen their existing friendly relations by exchange of such high-level visits.
Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar also called on Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and Prof. W.A. Wiswa Warnapala, Deputy Foreign Minister, during his stay in Colombo.