ISLAMABAD: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has cancelled his visit to Pakistan in the wake of the country’s political situation, sources in the Foreign Office said.

During the visit which was scheduled to begin on August 22, the Sri Lankan president was scheduled to hold meetings with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Mamnoon Hussain and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.

A high-powered delegation was to accompany Rajapaksa — 22 members in the government delegation and 30 members in a delegation from the private sector.

Apart from interactions with the country’s political and military leadership, MoUs were also to be signed during the visit of the Sri Lankan president.

The cancellation of Rajapaksa’s visit comes as Pakistan is in the middle of protests by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehrik that have thrown the country into a state of political turmoil.