Sri Lankan President heads on three-day state visit to Bangladesh

By APD Writer Jamila Husain

COLOMBO, July 13 (APD) - Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, on Thursday left for an official three-day visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, his office said in a statement.

During the visit, President Sirisena is expected to hold bilateral talks with Sheikh Hasina, the Bangladeshi President, Foreign Minister, Health Minister, Speaker as well as the Opposition Leader.

Sirisena, who is heading a 73 member delegation, is expected to hold extensive bilateral discussions regarding ways to strengthen cooperation in the maritime, education, tourism, fisheries and health sectors, while focusing on promoting investments between the two countries.

The Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi side are also expected to sign ten agreements.

This is Sirisena's first official visit to Bangladesh since being elected as President. However, he had journeyed to Bangladesh earlier as Health Minister in 2013 and 2014.

The two-way trade between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh stands at only US 80 million dollars and this visit will look to further strengthen this area as there is potential to expand the market.

Bangladesh is in talks with Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement or FTA.

Bangladesh High Commissioner in Colombo M Riaz Hamidullah earlier in a media interview suggested Sri Lankan investors look at Bangladesh.

He said since Sri Lanka is a small country with a population of only 20 million, expansion of businesses in the island country is difficult.

Therefore, Sri Lankan businessmen and entrepreneurs should look to invest in a bigger country like Bangladesh, he said.

Diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were formally established in 1972.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)