Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday reaffirmed his country’s enduring friendship with Pakistan and expressed gratitude for the latter’s support during challenging times in a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
Naqvi visited Sri Lanka today along with Overseas Minister Chaudhry Salik and met the Sri Lankan president. In a post on X following the meeting, President Dissanayake said, “We reaffirmed our enduring friendship and appreciated Pakistan’s support to Sri Lanka during difficult times.”
Met with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Minister Chaudhry Salik Hussain today. We reaffirmed our enduring friendship, appreciated Pakistan’s support to Sri Lanka during difficult times. The visiting Pakistan delegation conveyed special thanks from… pic.twitter.com/v2wcIvlzJZ
— Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) February 16, 2026
The Sri Lankan president also expressed appreciation, stating, “The visiting Pakistani delegation conveyed special thanks from Pakistan’s president and prime minister for Sri Lanka’s timely intervention, which helped resolve the situation regarding Pakistan’s participation in the tournament.”
The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, began on February 7 but was overshadowed after Bangladesh refused to play in India citing security concerns amid soured political relations between the neighbours.
Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the tournament after the ICC rejected their request to move their matches to Sri Lanka. Pakistan expressed solidarity with Bangladesh and protested the ICC decision, subsequently announcing that the national team would not play against India.
The development to reverse Pakistan’s boycott followed negotiations that included the ICC and the cricket boards of Pakistan and Bangladesh, along with consultations among national leaders nations such as Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
Later, Dissanayake urged Pakistan to play its T20 World Cup clash against India in a conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recalling Pakistan’s past solidarity with Sri Lankan cricket during difficult times.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to enhance cooperation on counter-terrorism
Earlier, Pakistan and Sri Lanka agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including counter-terrorism, narcotics control, and cybercrime prevention. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Naqvi and Sri Lankan Minister for Home and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, in Colombo.
The discussions focused on increasing cooperation to improve internal security, tackle terrorism, and address the growing threat of narcotics smuggling. Both sides also discussed the need for a joint strategy to combat cybercrimes and financial fraud, which have increasingly become a concern for both countries.
Naqvi emphasised the importance of collaboration between the interior ministries of both nations, stating, “Cooperation between the interior ministries of the two countries will open new avenues of relations.”
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the agreement to enhance mutual coordination in preventing illegal immigration and tackling narcotics trafficking.
During the talks, Naqvi proposed joint training programmes for police and paramilitary forces. He offered Sri Lankan officers the opportunity to undergo training at Pakistan’s National Police Academy in Islamabad. “Training exchange programmes for officers will enhance the capacity of the forces of both countries,” he added.
Naqvi also highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation to address cybercrimes and financial crimes, areas in which both nations are increasingly vulnerable.
In a gesture of goodwill, Naqvi invited his Sri Lankan counterpart to visit Pakistan at a mutually convenient time. He also thanked the Sri Lankan government for its warm hospitality during his visit.
The Sri Lankan minister expressed his delight at receiving the interior minister, reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to promoting closer cooperation with Pakistan in areas of mutual interest.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Major General (Retd) Fahim-ul-Aziz, along with other relevant officials, also attended the meeting. The interior minister was welcomed upon his arrival at the Sri Lankan Ministry of Home Affairs earlier in the day.
Naqvi also met Sri Lanka’s Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Sunil Kumara Gamage, with both sides agreeing to enhance cooperation in sports, particularly cricket.
During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, focusing on promoting bilateral collaboration through sports. It was decided that Pakistan and Sri Lanka would strengthen cooperation in cricket and other sports in coordination with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Sports.
“Warmth is returning to Pakistan–Sri Lanka relations,” said Naqvi, adding that cricket and other sports would further strengthen bilateral ties. He also praised the arrangements made during the T20 World Cup, commending Sri Lanka’s management of the event. “I received great affection in Sri Lanka.
I thank them for their wonderful hospitality,” he said, while extending an invitation to his Sri Lankan counterpart to visit Pakistan.
Read: ICC steps in to resolve Pakistan-India WC row
Last week, Naqvi met PM Shehbaz, wherein it was decided that the interior minister will visit Sri Lanka to deliver a special message from the prime minister to President Dissanayake.
