Dhaka, 15 November : The Foreign Minister of Sri Lankan Prof. Gamini Lakshman Peiris called on the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A K Abdul Momen today at State Guest House Padma.
Dr. Momen congratulated the newly appointed Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka and thanked him for attending the 21st meeting of the IORA Council of Ministers’ (COM) physically despite the global COVID-19 related health concerns. Foreign Minister also stated that Bangladesh attaches high importance to its relations with Sri Lanka which, he termed excellent, based on the historical linkages, friendship, and commonalities of views and shared vision of prosperity.
Recalling the State Visit of Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka to Dhaka on 19 – 20 March 2021 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. He 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 two leaders of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka further emphasized on expeditious conclusion of 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. 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.
The Meeting ended with positive note in a cordial atmosphere.
The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister is visiting Dhaka from 15-18 November 2021 and is expected to attend the 21st meeting of the IORA Council of Ministers’ (COM) which is scheduled to be held on 17 November 2021.
