Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to begin his Sri Lanka tour on 22 February, the Sri Lankan foreign ministry confirmed. Khan will be the first government head to visit the island nation after the pandemic. 

According to a report on Colombo Page, PM Imran Khan will meet Sri Lankan Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapakshe, Prime Minister Mahindra Rajapakshe, and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The visit comes at a time when Sri Lanka would likely get support on the  UNHRC report that has recommended tough measures against Sri Lanka over deteriorating human rights conditions. 

Media reports indicated that Pakistan was trying to rally up Muslim nations to support Sri Lanka in the upcoming UNHRC meet. Sri Lanka has also stepped up its diplomatic efforts, reaching out to several nations in a bid to garner support in its favor. 

“Foreign Ministry sources said Pakistan was now lobbying Muslim countries in the UNHRC to vote against the resolution that is due to come up on February 23,” reported Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times. 

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also had also visited Sri Lanka last month.