ISLAMABAD: Appreciating the splendid gesture shown by Sri Lankan government which sent its national cricket squad to Pakistan, Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada on Monday assured full support for helping the Island country in different sports.

Pirzada stated this during his meeting with visiting Sri Lankan Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera who called on the IPC minister at the Pakistan Sports Complex here on Monday.

Pakistan would support Sri Lanka in the disciplines of squash, hockey and kabaddi, it was decided in the meeting.

Jayasekera came to Pakistan along with his country’s cricket squad that played the landmark third Twenty20 International in Lahore on Sunday. The game has helped restored international cricket in Pakistan that other cricket-playing countries avoided due to security concerns after the March 2009 horrifying terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore.

Welcoming his counterpart, Pirzada said Pakistan and Sri Lanka had been enjoying cordial relations in different fields including sports and education.

On his part, Jayasekera while expressing delight on his tour to Pakistan after a long time, lauded the extraordinary security arrangements made for the Sri Lankan team’s visit.

Pakistan to help SL in squash, hockey and kabaddi

Endorsing the views expressed by the IPC minister, Jayasekera hoped the close relations between the two countries would improve further in future.

During the meeting, the visiting minister sought the provision of Pakistani coaches to help improve the skills of Sri Lankan players in the games of squash, hockey and kabaddi.

Jayasekera in this regard looked for Pakistan’s assistance in developing squash facilities, to which the IPC minister assured Pakistan’s complete support.

“Pakistan is ready to give every [possible] assistance to Sri Lanka in the field of sports,” the IPC minister said.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Pirzada said Pakistan had had close ties with Sri Lanka whose cricket team’s visit to Lahore gave a clear message to the world that Pakistan was a peaceful country.

“The sports relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will boost further,” declared the IPC minister.

Meanwhile, acting director general of the Pakistan Sports Board Mansoor Ahmed Khan while talking to Dawn said Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2015 had signed a Memorandum of Understanding for supporting each other in 10 sports.

During Monday’s meeting that MoU also came under discussion and both sides agreed that it would be implemented in letter and spirit, the official added.

“Sri Lankans are our friends; they did a great job by sending their cricket team to Pakistan. And therefore, as a reciprocal act, we will support them whenever they need it,” Mansoor said, adding Pakistan would assist Sri Lanka in developing its sports sector.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2017