Sl-pakistan discuss to enhance immigration cooperation

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the Pakistan High Commissioner had discussed the need for better cooperation in immigration in order to facilitate the two countries’ efforts in controlling the movement of those with questionable records.the President’s Media Division said this was discussed when Pakistan High Commissioner Major General (Retd) Muhammad Saad Khattak called on the President at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

Pakistan has also assured to extend its cooperation in defence, trade, people-to-people relations, countering extremism, promoting religious harmony and in any other area Sri Lanka would need. As the two countries are already enjoying good security cooperation, the High Commissioner has explained that he is concentrating on promoting trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The Pakistan High Commission is already in the process of organising a conference and a seminar in April where the business communities from the two countries can interact. High Commissioner Saad Khattak also noted that the Higher Education sector in Pakistan is currently offering 1,000 full scholarships to Sri Lankan students for the field of medicine, engineering and IT.

“This programme has already been given wide publicity in the Sri Lankan mainstream media inviting prospective students to apply. The Pakistan Higher Education authorities will soon come to Sri Lanka to interview these applicants. Besides, this scholarship program, Pakistan is also keen to offer scholarships to Sri Lankan students studying in their own country in terms of monetary fund,” the High Commissioner said. President Rajapaksa recalled that Pakistan offered scholarship programms even during President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s tenure.

“This was extended to children of servicemen and especially those who had sacrificed their lives for the country,” he said. President

Rajapaksa also commended Pakistan for the excellent work done in promoting Taxila, an ancient institute of higher learning and promised to extend Sri Lanka’s support in this regard.

President’s Secretary Dr P.B. Jayasundara, Deputy High Commissioner Tanvir Ahmad and Second Secretary (Political) Ayesha Abu Bakr Fahad were also present.