Sri Lanka has invited Pakistan Airlines to recommence direct flights to Colombo once again during President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit to Pakistan.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka during this visit signed six agreements to increase cooperation between their atomic energy authorities, shipping and disaster management as they vowed to enhance economic relations. Both countries pledge to boost relations in fields of atomic energy, shipping, disaster management, defense, sports and education resolve to achieve $ 1bn bilateral trade target.

“There is immense goodwill in Pakistan for Sri Lanka which should permit us to develop even more close and cooperative relations in all fields, including political, economic and defence,”Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said. He said Sri Lanka enjoys the special position of being the first country with which Pakistan signed a Free Trade Agreement in August 2002. He however pointed that the present volume of trade does not reflect the true potential.

“We have agreed to re-invigorate our effort to realize the goal of achieving US$ 1 billion bilateral trade target within the shortest possible time.” Currently SriLankan and Mihin Lanka operate direct flights to Paksitan.