PM flies to Sri Lanka today

E-Paper | March 17, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Sri Lanka from Jan 4 to 6 on the invitation of the president of Sri Lanka.

During his stay in Colombo, he will meet Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.

According to the Foreign Office, a number of memoranda of understanding and agreements for cooperation in various fields will be signed during the visit.

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe will host a lunch in honour of Mr Sharif.

Sri Lankan parliamentarians, religious leaders and businessmen will call on the prime minister during the visit.

PM Sharif will address a gathering of ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials, top businessmen and members of the diplomatic corps.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka enjoy friendly and cordial relations. Diplomatic ties between the two countries were established in 1948.

Being members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and Commonwealth, Pakistan and Sri Lanka cooperate closely and coordinate with each other on issues of common interest and regional and international concern.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2016

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AXH

Jan 04, 2016 08:04am

For God's sake, do not take the entire family with you on this trip, like you normally do.

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MIRZA JAMSHED

Jan 04, 2016 08:08am

YesTerday terror attack Today earthqakes Dark days upon our nation Hope we recover fast

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Adnan Aziz

Jan 04, 2016 09:05am

Yet another meaningless trip by PM Sharif. He should better have stayed home and tried to resolve hundreds of issues confronting the nation. He will take pride in signing a number of MoUs without substance which will gather dust over time for years till he or his successor visits Sri Lanka again. The amount spent on his visit could easily have been utilised elsewhere in a useful manner.

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I. Khan

Jan 04, 2016 10:08am

Can Mr. Nawaz Sharif stay in his own country Pakistan for more than one week.

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Rahul Singh

Jan 04, 2016 10:08am

I heared JF 17 deal was to be signed on this tour. Guess they have so many buyers that they cant afford to sell it to poor countries of sub continent :)

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IMM

Jan 04, 2016 10:11am

Aren't we already BECAME economically strong enough due to your uncountable, unquestionable trips for our country? let's call it a day mr. PM

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Dilectus

Jan 04, 2016 10:11am

Yet another useless, recreational tour of NS and his family on tax payers money. By the way in which capacity his family travels with him?

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N.Sid

Jan 04, 2016 10:25am

@Rahul Singh Last time I checked Sri Lanka per capita income is twice that of India, Pakistan and the HDI figures were much better than all south Asian countries.

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Faisal

Jan 04, 2016 11:23am

@MIRZA JAMSHED Terror attack, which terror attack.

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Jan 04, 2016 12:02pm

Dawn please advice how many trips our pm had completed in last year???

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naeem

Jan 04, 2016 02:03pm

Another business/fun trip by Mr. Sharif and his family on the poor taxpayer's money

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Navigator

Jan 04, 2016 03:06pm

Another version of Ittihad Steel Mills, this time in Colombo is in making..

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a Ali

Jan 04, 2016 03:31pm

we all remember Musharaf was in SL some 16 years back and PM was PM at that time as well.

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Shahid

Jan 04, 2016 03:57pm

His Chef and 10 "dhegs" of Mughali food will fly with him too!

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Muhammad

Jan 04, 2016 04:45pm

@Adnan Aziz For God's sake let us open up our hearts & minds. Reciprocal visits help nations to maintain good spirited terms even if there are not any huge projects to be signed. Similarly let us not behave like a dead nation...just be tolerant if your country's chief executive wants to take immediate family along. Many leaders from civilised countries do exactly do that. You should be happy that our PM is now using a smaller aircraft for his visits which is a welcome change.

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Israr

Jan 04, 2016 04:58pm

@Dilectus By the way how much tax do you pay? Educated and civilised nations do expect their chief executive to take along their immediate family. Show some heart even if you have never missed your tax return!

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Israr

Jan 04, 2016 05:04pm

@a Ali Yes we all remember that but what is the analogy here?

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Muhammad

Jan 04, 2016 05:09pm

@Shahid Are you serious or just trying to occupy your mind with negative ideas?

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