COLOMBO: The year 2023 marks 75 years of friendship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Both Countries have maintained a friendly relationship for the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations. This friendship is based on shared values of democracy, diversity, and the desire for regional peace and stability.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka have several MOU’s and agreements in place whereby both have enjoyed fruits of joint ventures as well as bilateral delegation exchange programs in variety of sectors like trade and business, education, defense and security, culture and tourism to name a few.
To further enhance the bilateral ties, Pakistan High Commission in Colombo has been doing a lot of welfare work for the friendly people of Sri Lanka. The activities mainly include ration distribution for deserving people, sewing machines for skilled women who want to support their families from home, computers and IT labs for schools, and business centers, fresh water pumps, sports equipment and time to time sports tournaments, are also organized to engage the youth in healthy physical activities.
The Government of Pakistan through its High Commission in Sri Lanka is awarding Jinnah Scholarships to bright Sri Lankan students on merit every year. Since its initiation in 2006, it has benefitted over 2000 Sri Lankan students.
The Government of Pakistan also offers “Allama Iqbal Scholarship” to Sri Lankan Students. It is a prestigious fully funded scholarship program for all Sri Lankan students who wish to pursue higher education in Pakistan. The scholarship aims to promote academic excellence and cultural exchange between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Under this program, selected Sri Lankan students are offered scholarships to pursue graduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies in various fields, including medicine, engineering, and social sciences etc. By providing opportunities for Sri Lankan students to study in Pakistan, the program helps foster mutual understanding, cultural exchange, and goodwill between the two countries. This program is a commitment of Pakistan to promote the values of education, knowledge, and international cooperation.
Trade has been a key area of cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan signed its first ever FTA with Sri Lanka in 2002. Ever since, both the countries have been doing bilateral trade in multiple sectors. Pakistan exports a wide range of products to Sri Lanka, including textiles, cement, and sugar, while Sri Lanka exports tea, rubber, and coconut products to Pakistan.
Defense and security ties between the two countries are also commendable. Pakistan has provided military training to personnels of Sri Lankan armed forces from different tiers, and both countries have participated in joint military exercises. More than six hundred senior military officers undergo training in different categories in Pakistan annually. Likewise, officers from all Pakistani armed forces also come to Sri Lanka for joint exercises and training courses etc. Bilateral high level delegation visits are also a common feature of our defense ties. In the 1990s, Pakistan provided military support to the Sri Lankan government during the civil war against the LTTE. Pakistan also played a key role in the development of the Sri Lankan Army’s Special Forces. Additionally, both countries have signed several defense agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on military cooperation, training and exchange programs, and defense industry cooperation. Overall, the defense cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been a key aspect of the bilateral relations and has strengthened the partnership over time.
Although it is 75 years of our friendship, yet both nations enjoy deeper connection through centuries old Gandhara civilization homed and well preserved in Pakistan out of which many have been declared “World Heritage Sites” by the UNESCO. Buddhism in the region produced a rich heritage of Buddhist art and architecture, which included the creation of intricate stone carvings and sculptures. Sri Lanka, which is predominantly a Buddhist country, has been deeply influenced by the Gandhara Civilization’s Buddhist heritage. Many of the old temples in Sri Lanka also feature intricate stone carvings and sculptures that are similar to those found in Gandhara, Pakistan.
The vibrant and diverse culture of the two nations is another commonality between Pakistan and Sri Lanka where both the countries have a vast opportunity to explore bilateral exchanges and joint ventures. The 75 years of Pakistan-Sri Lanka friendship has been marked by cooperation in various fields, including trade, defense, education, culture, and sports. The future of Pakistan-Sri Lanka relations is bright, and both countries have much to gain through this cooperative relationship. May our future generations enjoy the fruits of this love, respect and bilateral relations for centuries to come.
Long Live Pakistan – Sri Lanka Friendship
