Sunday Times 2
Pakistan High Commission celebrates 78th National Day
View(s):To celebrate the 78th National Day of Pakistan, the High Commission of Pakistan held a reception at Galadari Hotel, Colombo on Thursday.
Primary Industry Minister Daya Gamage was the chief guest. In his welcome address, High Commissioner Shahid Ahmad Hashmat shed light on the historic Pakistan Resolution passed on March 23, 1940 and hailed the sacrifices and political struggle of the Muslims of the Sub-Continent to gain independence on August 14, 1947.
The Pakistan cricket team members posing for a photograph with the dignitaries who attended the function
Dr. Hashmat said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka were time tested friends. The relations between the two countries were marked by mutual respect and commonality of views on major regional and global issues and close cooperation in the multilateral fora. The recent visit of Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena to attend Pakistan National Day celebrations, as guest of honour, was a testimony to the strong bonds of friendship and strategic cooperation between two countries, he added.
The Pakistan Women’s Cricket team was also present on the occasion. The team is in Sri Lanka to play in the qualifier round of ICC Women Championship and T20 series against Sri Lanka.
The High Commissioner, on behalf of Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain, presented Pakistan’s prestigious civil award “Sitara-i-Khidmat” to Dr. A.J.A. LakKumar Fernando for his meritorious services rendered to Pakistan in the eradication of dengue. Dr. Fernando is a renowned Sri Lankan Paediatrician and clinical head of the Centre for Clinical Management of Dengue and Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (CCMDDHF), Negombo Sri Lanka.
Dr. LakKumar Fernando (right) being conferred the “Sitara-i-Khidmat” award by High Commissioner Hashmat