"Pakistan has always had close relations with Sri Lanka and this good-will visit will strengthen our ties," said Zahoor Barlas, spokesman for the Pakisatan high commission in Colombo.

The visit _ starting March 31 _ will be the first to Pakistan since Rajapakse was elected to office, and his second official tour overseas.

Sri Lanka is expected to sign several agreements with Pakistan during the visit, including pacts connected to tourism, culture and railways, Barlas said.

He declined to comment if defense-related issues were going to be discussed, but assured Pakistan's unreserved support.

"Whatever assistance in whatever field Sri Lanka wants from Pakistan, we as a friend will provide," Barlas said.

However, presidential officials said military matters will be taken up during meetings between Rajapakse and his Pakistan counterpart Pervez Musharaff. Musharraf supplied much-needed weapons to the Sri Lankan government in May 2000, when the LTTE were about to recapture their former capital of Jaffna. The new weapons, mainly multi-barrel rocket launchers, from Pakistan helped the Sri Lankan army beat back the Tigers and turn the tide against the LTTE.

During Mushraff's 2002 visit to Sri Lanka, the two countries also signed a five-year free trade agreement that became operational in June 2005. Since then, in the second half of last year trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has almost doubled. The two countries earlier maintained a US$130 million annual trade of tea, garments, electronics, fruits, engineering goods and agricultural products.

President Rajapakse has particularly close relations with Pakistan's High Commissioner to Colombo Bashir Wali Mohmand, who officials say is personally engaged in ensuring the success of Rajapakse's visit with attention to detail.

Rajapakse is expected to be housed in a hotel that the Saudi Arabia king stayed during his visit, a higher profile venue than where other Sri Lankan state leaders, including former President Chandrika Kumaratunga stayed during her official visit in Pakistan.

Barlas said Sri Lanka is still to finalize the composition of the president's team and bilateral meetings will be set up accordingly.

Rajapakse is scheduled to will visit a province _ either Punjab or Lahore _ and also one of Pakistan's largest mosque's before concluding his visit.

Sri Lanka traditionally enjoys close ties with India, its giant neighbor and Pakistan's archrival, but Colombo has also successfully established good relations with the Musharraf regime in Islamabad.

Discuss this story Published: Sat Mar 4 20:40:33 EST 2006