FMs of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka stress strong relations

The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have emphasised on expeditious conclusion of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and enhancement of trade and commerce between the two countries.

They underscored to further strengthen air and maritime connectivity for the greater benefit of the two peoples.

Foreign Minister of Sri Lankan Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris, who is now on a four-day official visit to Dhaka to attend the 21st meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers’, called on Foreign Minister of Bangladesh AK Abdul Momen on Monday (Nov 15) at State Guest House Padma.

Congratulating the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka for attending the IORA meeting physically despite the global COVID-19 related health concerns, Momen stated that Bangladesh attaches high importance to its relations with Sri Lanka.

Recalling the State Visit of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to Dhaka on March 19–20 on the occasion of Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, he noted that it contributed in strengthening the ties of the two countries.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister expressed his happiness for meeting the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh.

He recalled the recent meeting of President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the World Leaders’ Summit of CoP-26 and said that the leadership of Sri Lanka highly appreciated recent economic development of Bangladesh.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister reiterated the importance of close relations between the two neighbours. He particularly stressed on further cooperation in the sectors like trade and commerce, investment, tourism, connectivity, agriculture, fisheries, education, and people to people contact.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister sought collaboration on the area of e-commerce, involvement in the digital sector through sharing of Bangladesh’s expertise.

Foreign Minister of Bangladesh particularly mentioned of Bangladesh’s success in the Pharmaceutical sector and urged his Sri Lankan counterpart to import pharmaceuticals products from Bangladesh.

Both the Ministers noted the ongoing cooperation under IORA, maritime cooperation, maritime security, blue economy, climate change, prevention of over exploitation of marine resources etc. 

They also pledged to explore the possible collaboration between Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University of Bangladesh and National Institute of Oceanographic Marine Sciences of Sri Lanka.