Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation meets Pakistani Defence Secretary in Colombo

An official meeting was held on July 2, 2026, at the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation between Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Anura Karunathilaka and a Pakistani delegation led by Defence Secretary Lieutenant General (Retd.) Muhammad Ali. During the meeting, extensive discussions were held on further strengthening the long-standing friendship and bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Special attention was paid to expanding cooperation in the aviation sector, improving air connectivity between the two countries, increasing flight frequencies between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and exploring future development opportunities in the sector. Discussions were also held on knowledge and experience sharing in the ports and maritime sector, as well as improving operational efficiency. The Pakistani delegation also appreciated Sri Lanka’s resilience and development progress following the “Ditwa” disaster. Further discussions were held on ongoing development programmes in the ports and civil aviation sectors aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka as a regional transport and logistics hub. Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Ministry Secretary W. W. S. Mangala, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka Daminda Ranmukwella, and senior officials from both sides attended the meeting. (Newswire)