The newly appointed High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, Major General (Retired) Dr.Nayyar Naseer, met with the Hon. Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, at Parliament recently (21).
The Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka, Ms. Zunaira Latif, and the Secretary General of Parliament, Ms. Kushani Rohanadeera, were also present at this meeting. The High Commissioner expressed that it is a great pleasure and honor to serve for the first time as High Commissioner in a friendly country rich in cultural heritage like Sri Lanka. He further stated his commitment to strengthening the long-standing friendship between the two countries and elevating bilateral relations to a more productive level.
Speaking on the occasion, the Hon. Speaker extended his congratulations to the newly appointed High Commissioner and expressed gratitude to the Government and people of Pakistan for their continued support during every challenging period faced by Sri Lanka.
He gratefully recalled Pakistan’s assistance during various occasions, from the country’s war situation to the devastating natural disaster caused by Cyclone “Ditwah,” describing it as a true expression of friendship.
The Hon. Speaker also highly appreciated Pakistan’s important role as an active mediator in
fostering global unity in the current international context. He further emphasized that the
establishment of the Sri Lanka – Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Association has created
opportunities to further strengthen ties between the legislatures of both countries.
At this meeting, the Hon. Speaker requested the High Commissioner of Pakistan to facilitate bringing to Sri Lanka the statue depicting the Buddha’s austerities (Fasting Buddha Statue), currently housed at the Lahore Museum in Pakistan, so that Sri Lankan devotees may have the opportunity to view and pay homage.
