Sri Lanka and Pakistan signed Six Agreements

Sri Lanka and Pakistan on 6 April 2015 signed six agreements. The signing of the agreement was witnessed by the Pakistan Prime Minsiter Nawaz Sharif and Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena at the PM House in Islamabad.

The six agreements pertained to advancing cooperation in disaster management, sports, shipping, socio-economic development, education and narcotics control.

The list of six agreements signed between Sri Lanka and Pakistan

• Cooperation between Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka
• Agreement on cooperation against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
• Academic cooperation agreement on exchange and collaboration between National Defence University of Pakistan and Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies of Sri Lanka
• Mutual cooperation in shipping business between Pakistan National Shipping Corporation(PNSC) and the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd (CSCL)
• Collaboration in the field of Sports
• Cooperation on disaster management

Sri Lankan President Sirisena is on a three day visit to Pakistan and this is Sirisena’s first visit to Pakistan since he assumed the charge of President of Sri Lanka in January 2015.

The two heads of states during their meeting discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields while focusing mainly on trade. Regional and international issues of mutual interest were also part of the discussions.

Comment

The chief among the six agreement signed was the agreement on atomic energy. Even though Pakistan and Sri Lanka have traditionally enjoyed strong ties, particularly over defence, but the signing of agreement on atomic energy with Pakistan one month after the signing of agreement on nuclear cooperation with India highlights the focus which the new regime in Sri Lanka is putting on build its first nuclear plant.

Pakistan has three operational nuclear plants which generated a total of around 740 MW of power. It has also begun work on building two more nuclear plants, including a 2200-megawatt station that is being built along the Arabian Sea coast at Paradise Beach, 40 kilometres west of Karachi with the help of Chinese assistance.