Sri Lanka has cancelled Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address to its parliament scheduled for Feb 24 after reservations that it could sour ties with India, reported Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Express.

PM Imran is set to arrive in Colombo on Feb 22 on a two-day visit. He is expected to address the parliament of the South Asian nation during his visit. Pakistani leaders, including presidents Ayub Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, addressed the Sri Lankan parliament in 1963 and 1975. 

However, days ahead of the address, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena had written to the government, seeking a postponement of the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The newspaper reported that the speaker said that he was unable to ensure full attendance in parliament on the occasion.

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Daily Express, quoting unnamed but “reliable” sources, claimed that “sections of the government had reservations about the decision to have the Pakistan prime minister address the Sri Lankan parliament as it could sour relations with India”.

“The sources believe India might apprehend the Pakistani leader would raise the Kashmir issue in his address,” it reported.

According to English language daily, the Pakistani Prime Minister is coming to Sri Lanka to strengthen ties with the only South Asian nation with which it has consistently close and good ties. It is undeniable that Sri Lanka-Pakistan relations have been cordial and strong right from the late 1940s when both got independence from Britain.

Sri Lanka is eagerly waiting for Pakistan’s help to garner the support of Muslim countries in the 47-member UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in which a hostile resolution against it is likely to be introduced in March. The resolution is expected to call for Sri Lanka’s reference to the International Criminal Court at The Hague.