Afghanistan president in Lanka for bilateral talks

Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, left, waving next to Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Disanayaka Mudiyanselage Jayaratne (in white) during a ceremonial reception at the airport after arriving in Katunayake, north of Colombo, yesterday. Karzai is on a three-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

DPA/Colombo

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday for a three-day visit that was rescheduled due to an attack on Afghan troops, officials said.

On his first-ever trip to Sri Lanka, Karzai is expected to discuss with his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapakse a wide-range of issues of bilateral interests.

The Afghan President was due to visit Sri Lanka last month, but the visit was postponed due to an attack on Afghan troops in the northeastern Kunar Province.

One of the agreements formalises the provision of employment opportunities for skilled Sri Lankans living in Afghanistan.

There are currently 3,000 Sri Lankans employed in Afghanistan, the majority of whom are serving in US and other Western military bases.

The two leaders are expected to sign agreements on co-operation in areas of human resources, sports, education and health, as well as reaching three memorandums of understanding.

On the trip, Karzai is accompanied by his Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani, National Security Adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta and adviser on international affairs Yahya Maroofi.

Higher Education Minister Obaidullah Obaid, Labour and Social Affairs Minister Amana Afzali and Public Health Minister Suraya Dalil are also members of the Afghan delegation to Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chief executive Noor Mohammad Murad will be joining the Afghan delegation in Colombo, according to Farid Hotak, the board’s spokesman.

Murad was in Bangladesh with the national cricket team as part of the Asia Cup tournament. He had left Dhaka for Colombo, the spokesman said.

ACB officials would hold talks with Sri Lankan counterparts to seek their co-operation towards the Afghan cricket team, he said.