Nishan-i-Imtiaz conferred upon Sri Lankan's top military official

ISLAMABAD: President Dr. Arif Alvi on Wednesday conferred Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon Chief of Defence Staff Sri Lankan Armed Forces Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne in a special ceremony held here at the ‘Aiwan-e-Sadr’.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and senior officers were also present in the ceremony.  Later, Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne Chief of Defence Staff Sri Lankan Armed Forces also called on President Dr. Arif Alvi.

Addressing the ceremony, Dr. Arif Alvi asserted that Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka. He said, “bilateral relations between the two countries have always been marked by mutual respect, understanding and close cooperation.”

According to a statement released from his office, the president underscored that Pakistan considers Sri Lanka an important regional country, contributing significantly towards regional and global peace. He stated that cooperation in the field of defence was an important aspect of our multi-faceted relationship.

Arif Alvi said that Pakistan had been a partner of Sri Lankan Armed forces for enhancing their capacity by providing large number of vacancies in its institutions. He appreciated Sri Lankan Navy’s participation in AMAN-2019 with assets and observers.

The president underlined that future connectivity of Gwadar, Karachi, Colombo and Hambantota ports would ensure enhanced regional connectivity and unprecedented economic activities.

Admiral Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne Chief of Defence Staff Sri Lankan Armed Forces thanked the president and the government of Pakistan on being awarded with Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) and hoped that bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries would further grow in future.