Pakistan and Sri Lanka signed five MoUs to enhance cooperation in the fields of investment, science, and technology, and industrial technology on the first day of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s two-day state visit to Sri Lanka, Dawn reported. Khan also held one on one discussion with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday in Colombo. This was followed by a delegation-level meeting. 

“My visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relationship [with Sri Lanka], especially trade and economic ties through enhanced connectivity,” Khan was quoted as saying by Dawn while addressing a joint press conference.

He also highlighted the benefits from China’s Belt and Road initiative and suggested Sri Lanka could access the Central Asia region using Pakistan’s CPEC corridor. Issues of regional and international importance were also discussed during his meeting with Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He also discussed cooperation in tackling the pandemic effects in both countries. 

Khan also stressed how terrorism affected the investment in the country. Around 70,000 Pakistanis had been killed in the last decade due to terrorism, and no investment came during the period, he claimed. 

Calling Pakistan a "close and genuine friend," Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked Khan for his cooperation for allowing tourism access to Sri Lankan pilgrims to Buddhist heritage sites in Pakistan. 

Around 40 leading Pakistani businessmen are also accompanying Khan during his visit. They are expected to attend the joint trade and investment conference being held in Colombo on Wednesday.

The two nations will also reconstitute the Sri Lanka-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Association to enhance the parliamentary exchanges. 

Meanwhile, a group of Muslim activists also held a protest near the Sri Lankan president’s office, demanding the burial rights of the people who died of Covid-19, The Associated Press reported. Protesters hoped Pakistan Prime Minister would raise the issue with Sri Lankan leadership.