COLOMBO, Nov 14: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived here on Thursday to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting beginning here on Friday.

He was greeted at the airport by the Leader of the House in Sri Lankan Parliament, Nimal Siripala D. Silva, Senior Minister for Municipal Affairs A.H.M. Fawzi, Minister of Power and Energy Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

Mr Sharif is accompanied by wife Kulsoom Nawaz and Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.

The theme of the summit is “Growth with Equity-Inclusive Development”.

Pakistan is one of the eight founding members of the 53-member Commonwealth, which signed the London Declaration of April 1949.

It makes annual contributions to five organisations -- Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, Commonwealth Youth Programme and the Commonwealth of Learning.

Mr Sharif greeted the government and people of Sri Lanka for hosting the significant event.

He expressed confidence in the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and expressed the hope that the Commonwealth would become a stronger and more cohesive organisation under his leadership.

He said that Pakistan, being a democracy and a responsible member of the global community, contributed to efforts made by the Commonwealth for promoting peace through international cooperation and alleviating poverty through sustainable economic and social development.—APP