Greater Bilateral Cooperation between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

(July 11, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. Dipu Moni who is in Sri Lanka to attend the Fourth SAARC Ministerial Conference on Children held on 9 – 10 July 2009 in Colombo, met with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama on 10 July 2009 at the Ministry.

Welcoming the visiting Foreign Minister, Minister Bogollagama referred to the excellent relations that the two countries have maintained for decades.

Minister Moni congratulated the Government of Sri Lanka for eliminating the LTTE terrorism and assured that Bangladesh would always remain firm in support of Sri Lanka’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The visiting Foreign Minister expressed the confidence that the Government of Sri Lanka has the courage and ability to meet the challenging tasks ahead including resettlement of IDPs and achieving economic prosperity.

Minister Bogollagama appraised his counterpart of the initiatives undertaken by the government with regard to resettlement, rehabilitation and reconciliation process emphasizing the Government’s commitment to meet the 180 day target for resettlement of IDP’s in the North.

Recalling the long standing historical ties between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the visiting Foreign Minister stated that the Government of Bangladesh looks forward to enhancing the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade, tourism, culture, fisheries, health and education. In that regard the two Ministers agreed to resume the next session of the Sri Lanka Bangladesh Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation at an earlier date as it has not met since 1993. They also emphasized the importance of the air connectivity between Colombo and Dhaka with a view to further enhancing people to people contacts.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama thanked the Government of Bangladesh for being supportive of Sri Lanka in the multilateral fora during difficult times and expressed the happiness that Sri Lanka also could reciprocate accordingly as a friendly nation. Referring to the ongoing SAARC Ministerial Conference on Children the two Ministers agreed that SAARC should have more structured programmes for children focusing on their welfare and education.

Foreign Minister Moni handed over a letter of Invitation extended by Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a State Visit this year.

The Bangladesh Foreign Minister was accompanied by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Colombo and Senior Officials of the Government of Bangladesh. Additional Secretary Prasad Kariyawasam, Director General of South Asia and SAARC Ranjith Uyangoda and Senior Officials of the Foreign Ministry were also present at the meeting.

-Sri Lanka Guardian