Delegation from the National Defence University, Pakistan visits the LKI

May 7, 2024    Reading Time: 2 minutes

Reading Time: 2 min read

On 07 May 2024, the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKI) welcomed a 16 member delegation of senior military officers from the National Defence University NDU, Pakistan led by Air Cdre. Faisal Fazal Muhammad Khan. The participants are members of the NDU’s National Security and War Course (NSWC) 2023/2024 and included 5 foreign nationals.

The visit featured a lecture on ‘Sri Lanka- Pakistan relations’ focusing on the diplomatic, political, economic and socio-cultural aspects conducted by the Executive Director of the LKI Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha. Tracing the relationship since both countries received independence, he highlighted the steadfast support afforded to Sri Lanka by Pakistan in defeating terrorism in Sri Lanka, and in resisting international pressure in the Human Rights Council and other multilateral bodies in the years following the ending of the conflict. He noted that Sri Lanka and Pakistan are like minded on many global issues, and coordinate closely with each other, along with a host of other countries. He further stressed the importance for the two countries to fully explore the untapped potential in several areas of bilateral cooperation including trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange, and collaborate even more closely at the international level.

Following the Executive Director’s comments, participants of the delegation engaged in an interactive dialogue on the reasons behind the limited progress of economic activity between the two countries despite various frameworks available including an FTA, on Sri Lanka secure greater connectivity with Central Asian states, and on new areas for expanding cooperation in the multilateral sphere.

The LKI and the National Defence University of Pakistan have had the benefit of closer cooperation, based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2015 on research and student exchange, and both sides expressed determination to further strengthen this collaboration.

The delegation was accompanied by Col. Muhammad Farooq, the Defense Advisor to the High Commision of Pakistan in Sri Lanka and Col. Menaka Ramasundara of the Sri Lanka Army. Amb. Aryasinha was joined by the research staff of the LKI in this interaction.