The High Commission of Sri Lanka in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Comments: Comments: Comments: Comments: srilanka@dsl.net.pk

PAKISTAN SRI LANKA PAKISTAN SRI LANKA PAKISTAN SRI LANKA PAKISTAN SRI LANKA FRIENDSHIP MAGAZINEFRIENDSHIP MAGAZINEFRIENDSHIP MAGAZINEFRIENDSHIP MAGAZINE

January 2012January 2012January 2012January 2012

Pakistan wishes develop to strong economic ties Pakistan wishes develop to strong economic ties Pakistan wishes develop to strong economic ties Pakistan wishes develop to strong economic ties with Sri Lankawith Sri Lankawith Sri Lankawith Sri Lanka

P akistan has sought stronger eco-

nomic ties with Sri Lanka so as to en-hance trade be-tween the two coun-tries. President Asif Ali Zardari said Pakistan values its ties with Sri Lanka which are based on mutual trust and shared interests in maintaining regional peace, security and stability, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

Talking to Sri Lanka’s Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal W D R M J Goonetilleke, that President Zardari said Pakistan and Sri Lanka need to forge a partner-ship to further strengthen the existing relationship. Ex-pressing satisfaction over security co-operation be-tween the two countries, the president said the chal-lenge for the two countries was to translate their equation into economic terms for the benefit of the people.

Pakistan Naval Ship "Saif" (FFG-253) arrived at the Port of Colombo on 26th November 2011 on a goodwill visit. The ship was ceremonially wel-comed by the Sri Lanka Navy in accordance with naval traditions on her arrival.

The ship's Commanding Officer Captain Mu-hammad Zubair Shafique called on Director General Naval Operations Rear Admiral Jayan-tha Perera at the Naval Headquarters. He was accompanied by Pakistan Defence Adviser in Sri Lanka Colonel Sheharyar Parvez Butt. PNS Saif is a SWORD class frigate with a Z9EC - 20 helicopter, onboard dedicated for ship borne operations. The ship, equipped with the state of the art weapons, sensors and machinery, is the front line ship and potent platform of the Pakistan Navy.

It is 123 meters in length and has a displacement of 2688 tons. The ship is en route to participate in the Langkavi International Maritime and Aero-space Exhibition 2011 IMA - 11) held in Malaysia from 06th to 10th December.

Pakistan Naval ship "Saif" arrives at the port of Colombo

The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka on courtesy call with Newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan

The High Commissioner of Sri Sri Lanka in Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody has paid a courtesy call on Admiral M Asif Sandila HI (M), newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy on 7th December,2011.

During the meeting, High Commissioner and Chief of Na-val Staff discussed regarding bilateral military relations be-tween Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Free Trade Agreement FTA between Pakistan and Sri Lanka implemented in year 2005 has opened new avenues for business communities of both countries to expand trade and economic ac-tivities utilizing tariff conces-sion being granted to im-port goods of each other’s country.

Except for few products categories, over 4,000 products are eligible for trade under FTA.

Pakistan is second largest trading partner of Sri Lanka in SAARC region . Sri Lanka’s exports to Pakistan include rubber, rubber-based prod-ucts, coconut and coconut products, betel leaves, tea, pineapple, spices, dried fish, elec-tric switches and sockets, porcelain tableware, ceramic tiles, furniture, fibre board of wood, herbal cosmetic products, plastic articles. Major Pakistan export items to Sri Lanka include cot-ton, textiles, rice, cement, steel pipes, potatoes, fruits, medicaments, electrical machines and apparatus etc. Trade balance is in favour of Pakistan.

Pakistan Medical team in Sri Lanka for Dengue Management Training

A special team of 50 Pakistani Medical professionals are in Sri Lanka to obtain special training on dengue fever management.

The team will receive three weeks' training from Sri Lankan medical professionals, Health Ministry spokesman W M D Vanninayake said

The World Health Organization had recommended Sri Lanka to Pakistan to obtain knowledge on man-aging dengue fever, considering the knowledge Sri Lanka acquired by handling a large number of den-gue patients. Sri Lanka, earlier sent a 12 member medical team to Pakistan to control the dengue outbreak reported from Lahore and Punjab.

The Sri Lankan medical team controlled the dengue outbreak within 10 days.

The training will commence from December 12. Sri Lankan medical professionals will train Pakistan medical professionals on dengue fever manage-ment, dengue patient management and subjects related to dengue treatment, he said.

Sri Lanka successfully brought down the high death rate of dengue patients using latest dengue patient manage-ment methods and treatment.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka FTA opens new avenues

Traders urged to explore Pakistan-SL FTA ties

The business communities of Pakistan and Sri Lanka should explore opportu-nities created under the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries, the Consul General of Sri Lanka, D.W. Jinadasa said.

Except for a few hundred products in the Negative List, all products are eli-gible for duty concessions and duty-free access, he said at a meeting with members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). Paki-stan is the second largest partner of Sri Lanka in the SAARC region after India, The value of total trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan increased from $158 million in 2005 to $342 million in 2010. "There is a need for frequent exchange of delegations and data-based information on trade and markets and hold-ing of single country exhibitions," he said.

Bid Farewell Mrs. Thaslima Azmi, who has been working over three years as the Personal Assistant in the High Com-mission of Sri Lanka in Pakistan left Islamabad after completion of her tour of duty. She arrived in Is-lamabad in 2008 and com-pleted her tenure in Octo-ber, 2011.

During her tenure in Islamabad, addition to her routine work she has engaged to develop monthly newsletter including distribution among Pakistan and other readers.

The High commission wishes her every suc-cess in her life.

The Adam’s Peak mountain is located in the Southern reaches of the Central Highlands in Sri Lanka , in the Sabaragamuwa Province - lying about 40 km Northeast of the city of Ratnapura in

Sri Lanka . The surrounding region is largely for-ested hills, with no mountain of comparable size nearby. The region along the mountain is a wildlife reserve housing many species varying from Ele-phants to leopards, and including many endemic species. Significance of the Adam's Peak Adams Peak is Sri Lanka's Holiest Mountain and each year Pilgrims flock to climb its 5200 steps.

Located in a beautiful and fascinating area of the southern edge of the Central highlands of Sri Lanka, the Mount Matterhorn shaped peak has sparked the imagination for centuries..

The Peak is the holy place for all four Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism ,Islam, and Christianity

Buddhist view of Adam’s peak

According to one legend the Buddha is believed to have left the print of his left foot on Adam’s Peak, and then, in one stride crossed to Siam, (now Thailand) where he left the impression of his right foot. The Thai version is called Phra Sat, and its appearance is supposed to be like that of the foot print on Adam’s Peak and it is of similar size.

Other, similar footprints were found in Laos (Pha Baat Phonsan), Cambodia (Phnom Santuk) and China (Wu-Tai Shan). Buddhists attribute this uni-versal size (such is the belief) to the fact that the Buddha was about thirty- five feet tall. The real footprint on Adam’s Peak is believed to be set in jewels beneath the visible rock.

Only general view of Adam’s Peak and its triangu-lar shadow are shown in the photos, it is strictly prohibited to photograph the footprint).

Hindu’s View of Adam’s Peak

The Hindus believe that the footmark is that of Lord Shiva, the third godhead of the Hindu Holy Triad. The God is supposed to have settled on the sum-mit to shed his divine light upon mankind. Hence they call the mountain ‘Sivanolipadam’ (Foot of Shiva’s Light). The votaries of Shiva as-cend the mountain beseeching divine help and providence to be born in the ce-lestial abode (i.e. Mt. Kailas in Tibet). To note here, that there exists a view of a deeper connection between Adam’s Peak and Mt. Kailas, e.g. located on the same geo- graphi-cal axis, having similar pyramidal shape, Adam’s Peak is sometimes con-sidered as a natural and also spiritual “replica” of the Mt. Kailas, one of the holiest and the most en-igmatic places on our planet (please, read more detailed article on Mt. Kailas in the future issues of the UN Special).

Adam's Peak season begins on 09 December 2011.The Pilgrims will be end on 21st April 2012

It is a common place to worship all faiths

Please Visit the Photo Website Named ‘Pakistan Sri Lanka Friendship site’ on flicker Please Visit the Photo Website Named ‘Pakistan Sri Lanka Friendship site’ on flicker Please Visit the Photo Website Named ‘Pakistan Sri Lanka Friendship site’ on flicker Please Visit the Photo Website Named ‘Pakistan Sri Lanka Friendship site’ on flicker http://www.flickr.com/photos/http://www.flickr.com/photos/http://www.flickr.com/photos/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pksl1947/ pksl1947/ pksl1947/ pksl1947/

Islamic View

It is a belief among Muslims world-wide that when Adam (AS) was banished from Paradise on account of his disobedience to God, he set

foot on the peak where the foot print of Adam remains to this day. Muslims attribute the luscious growth and beauty of natural vegetation in our spicy island, and it being immune from major natural calamities to the fact that Adam stepped down on this island and that it has been hallowed by the visit of innumerable Muslims Saints down the centuries to our fair isle.

Christian s’ view

Christian view: the Portuguese, who came to Sri Lanka in 1505, called the mountain Pico de Adam (anglicised Adam’s Peak). They held the belief that St. Thomas the Doubter, came to In-dia and Sri Lanka, baptised Gondophorus, the Indo-Parthian king, and after leaving his foot-

mark on the mountain, ascended to Heaven.

everybody cries out «Sadhu, sadhu, sa!» in a manner reminiscent of sun worship. And while a heavy bell is loudly rung a shade of pyramidal form appears near the mountain and stays for some instants. The shade has the dimensions of a perfect triangular pyramid even though the slopes of the peak are not so regular. This is per-haps an optical illusion, but it definitely adds to the mysticism that surrounds the mountain.

Whatever the belief, everybody who reaches the peak pays special tribute to the sun, and there is a ceremony at sunrise, which in itself justi-fies the difficult climb. Everybody reaching the top stands facing east with their hands held to-gether in an attitude of adoration awaiting the emergence of the sun. They watch intently the changing colours of the sky prior to sunrise and just as the tip of the sun appears.

The High Commissioner and the staff of Sri Lanka High

Commission in Pakistan wish you all a Happy & Prosperous New Year

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