by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Islamabad : Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to further diversify and enhance relations especially in the realm of trade and people-to-people contacts, a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
The move came after Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi briefed visiting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on issues of regional and international importance. President Sirisena concluded his three-day visit here on Saturday.
“The Sri Lankan President appreciated the support and assistance extended by Pakistan to his country during the difficult times,” the statement said.
The Sri Lankan President presented 20 corneas (10 corneas each) to the president and the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who appreciated the generous donation for the people of Pakistan.
Three MoUs were signed during the visit of the Sri Lankan president to further strengthen bilateral cooperation on capacity building of diplomats, public policy research and training of civil servants.
“President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit further cemented the good will between the two countries and provided renewed impetus to strength bilateral cooperation,” the statement said.
According to the statement, Pakistan also sought help from the Sri Lankan president to convene the summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | World
Colombo : A 10-day state of emergency was declared in Sri Lanka on Tuesday after sectarian violence between Buddhists and Muslims in the Kandy region left two people dead, government officials said.
Clashes between the majority Buddhists and the minority Muslims erupted on Sunday in the central part of the country leading to the deaths, torching of around 20 shops and a dozen arrests.
President Maithripala Sirisena and the Cabinet decided to declare a state of emergency for 10 days. Security services were empowered to deal with “criminal elements” and to restore normality on the island, the media division of the President’s office tweeted.
The statement from Sirisena’s office came after Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in Parliament that the government was considering imposing a state of emergency.
The Indian cricket team is currently in Sri Lanka for a tri-nation series along with Bangladesh — and the country’s Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara said there was no question of cancelling any matches at the moment.
The government also convened a special meeting over the communal violence involving the Muslims and the Sinhalese, who are mostly Buddhists, Efe news reported.
Early in the day, the body of a 28-year-old Muslim man was recovered from Teldeniya in Kandy province leading to fresh unrest. His house was allegedly set on fire by Buddhist radicals. The man got trapped inside the house after he let his parents escape the fire.
The house, which also served as a business establishment, was among the around 20 shops that were set on fire, along with a mosque, by the radicals.
The authorities on Monday imposed a curfew and arrested more than 20 people in Kandy for the violence that ensued after the death of a Buddhist in Teldeniya, who was killed when he clashed with four Muslims.
In 2014, violence between Muslims and Buddhists had erupted in two cities in the southern part of the country and left four people dead and 16 injured.
The ultra-nationalist group Bodu Bala Sena, led by monk Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, was found to be responsible for the violence against the Muslims.
Buddhists make up nearly 70 per cent of the total population of Sri Lanka while only 11 per cent are Muslims.
—IANS
