Sri Lanka, Pakistan eye air connectivity for tourism growth

A high-level Pakistani business delegation met Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya this week 

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are currently in discussion to increase air connectivity to push tourism and bilateral relations between the two countries. 
A high-level business delegation from Pakistan met Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya this week, to explore the possibilities of strengthening aviation links, which could potentially promote business exchanges and new opportunities for economic cooperation.
“The leaders discussed increasing air connectivity, a step anticipated to benefit Sri Lanka’s tourism industry while exploring broader measures to fortify the bilateral relationship. The prime minister expressed her appreciation for the long-standing partnership between Pakistan and Sri Lanka,” the Prime Minister’s Media Division stated.Improving air links was also a point of discussion at the seventh Round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which took place at the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, in Islamabad, this year.A Sri Lankan delegation, led by Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane, visited Pakistan on July 30, 2024, to review the progress of bilateral relations achieved in areas of cooperation such as trade, defence, security and education.

“The delegations agreed on the need to increase connectivity and bilateral trade to enhance economic growth, in particular air connectivity between the two countries. Tourism and people-to-people contacts could be further enhanced through cultural, religious and sports links,” the Foreign Affairs Ministry stated, post the successful conclusion of the consultation round.According to the Commerce Department, Pakistan is the second largest trading partner of Sri Lanka in the SAARC region, followed by India, in trade and volume.
Sri Lanka was also the first country to sign a free trade agreement (PSFTA) with Pakistan in 2005. In 2021, approximately US $ 62.25 million of the total US $ 91.86 million in Sri Lankan exports to Pakistan for the year was conducted under the agreement’s provisions. (NR)