COLOMBO: Sri Lanka today acknowledged Pakistan's "decisive role" in consolidating the country's integrity during the civil war with the LTTE as Pakistan's Navy chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah called on its top leadership.
Admiral Zakaullah, who is on a five-day visit to Sri Lanka, today called on President Maithripala Sirisena at the President’s official residence and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickramasinghe thanked the Pakistan government for its "unwavering" support in the fight against terrorism and both the leaders were of the view that Pakistan had played a "decisive role" in helping to consolidate the integrity of Sri Lanka, the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement.
The president and the prime minister said Sri Lanka is "grateful" to the people and the government of Pakistan for providing flood relief material and medical aid to the flood vistims earlier this month, it said. They also referred to the close longstanding political and cultural relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the statement said.
Admiral Zakarullah said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka in both bilateral and regional context. He pledged the fullest cooperation and support of the Pakistan Navy to the Sri Lankan Government and Navy.
Earlier, Zakaullah, 59, called on top military officials in Sri Lanka and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and bilateral naval collaboration. Admiral Zakaullah said that the Pakistan Navy would go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship between the two nations.