This Article is From May 21, 2009

Pakistan a true friend, says Sri Lanka

Colombo: Describing Pakistan as a "true friend", Sri Lanka has said Islamabad has always stood with it "in times of need".

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hussein A Bhaila told this to Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan who called him up on Wednesday to felicitate Sri Lanka on its "great victory" over the LTTE.

Pakistan has always been a steadfast friend of Sri Lanka and strongly supported the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Khan was quoted as saying by a Foreign Ministry statement in Colombo on Thursday.

Bhaila said the government and the people of Sri Lanka have considered "Pakistan as a true friend of Sri Lanka, which has always stood by it in times of need," the statement said.

The Sri Lankan Minister described the defeat of LTTE as a "great victory for all peace-loving people in the country".
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