Kathmandu, 20 December:  Emphasis has been laid to expand bilateral relations between Nepal and Sri Lanka for mutual cooperation and prosperity. At a programme  jointly organised by Sri Lankan Embassy in Nepal and Nepal Council for World Affairs here on Monday to commemorate  the 65th year of establishment of Nepal-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations, diplomats expressed the view that bilateral relations should be expanded on the basis of mutual cooperation and collaboration. The speakers drew the attention of the sides concerned to expanding cooperation and collaboration in tourism, trade, religious and cultural sectors between Nepal and Sri Lanka. Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka said the time had come to pay attention on improvement of living standard of the people by linking Nepal and Sri Lanka through economic and social activities. Former Foreign Secretary and Nepali Ambassador to Sri Lanka Durga Prasad Bhattarai viewed that there is possibility of collaboration with Sri Lanka in various sectors including trade, hydropower, education, health and tourism. Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal, Himalee  Subhashini Arunatilaka, expressed the view that people of both countries should be benefitted through expansion of economic relations. Chairperson of Nepal Council for World Affairs, Hemant Kharel, stressed the need of taking the relation between Nepal and Sri Lanka to the people's level. People's News Monitoring Service