Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani here on Thursday on the sidelines of 17th SAARC Summit and discussed bilateral relations.

Both the leaders agreed to further expand and strengthen their ties in different fields, especially in rade, security, culture and people-to-people contacts. Prime Minister Gilani also exchanged views on the working of SAARC and said that there was a need to make this organisation more active for the benefit of the people of area and to promote trade and economic activities in the region.

The President of Sri Lanka while thanking Pakistan and Prime Minister Gilani for returning the relics of Buddha, said that it had promoted cultural relations between the two countries.

He said this gesture of Pakistan had enhanced the strong relations between the peoples of two countries and would play an important role in further strengthening bilateral relations.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Interior Minister Rehman Malik were also present in the meeting. (Source: Associated Press Pakistan)

REUTERS