ISLAMABAD: On Monday, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Pakistan officials in Colombo and thanked Islamabad for their support during challenging times. He met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain. Dissanayake said, "We reaffirmed our enduring friendship [and] appreciated Pakistan’s support to Sri Lanka during difficult times." The Pakistan delegation also conveyed "special thanks from Pakistan’s president and prime minister for Sri Lanka’s timely intervention when Pakistan’s participation in the T20 [World Cup] was uncertain." Earlier, Pakistan had decided not to play against India in the T20 group stage but withdrew this decision after Sri Lanka urged reconsideration. Sri Lanka Cricket warned that a boycott would cause financial loss and hurt tourism. Dissanayake expressed happiness that the India-Pakistan T20 match "will proceed as planned." The Sri Lankan president also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for "ensuring the game we all love goes on." Separately, Pakistan and Sri Lanka agreed to develop a joint strategy to fight cybercrimes and financial fraud mafias. Interior Minister Naqvi met with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala. They discussed boosting cooperation in internal security, counterterrorism, anti-narcotics, and curbing illegal immigration and drug trafficking. Naqvi offered training for Sri Lankan police at Pakistan’s National Police Academy and emphasized expanding cooperation against cybercrime. He invited his Sri Lankan counterpart to visit Pakistan, who welcomed the proposal. On security, Naqvi met Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Sampatha Thuyacontha. Both sides agreed to enhance bilateral security cooperation. The defence secretary acknowledged Sri Lanka’s experience with terrorism and thanked Pakistan for steadfast support. Naqvi also met Sri Lankan Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage to discuss closer ties in sports, especially cricket. Both agreed to promote bilateral cooperation through sports exchanges. Naqvi appreciated Sri Lanka’s hospitality during the T20 World Cup and invited the sports minister to Pakistan.