Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa will make a State visit to Bangladesh tomorrow on an invitation extended by the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister’s Media Division said yesterday.
The visit will coincide with the celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health has granted approval to undertake the State visit to Bangladesh within a bio-bubble while adhering to strict COVID-19 preventive measures.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa will be delivering a speech tomorrow evening at the event to mark the conclusion of the ‘Mujib Year’, declared to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh’s independence.
During the visit, Prime Minister Rajapaksa will hold high-level bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and the Governor of the Bangladesh Bank.
“The special invitation and the high-level bilateral discussions are expected to enhance the strong relations the two countries have enjoyed for a very long time. Bilateral discussions will touch upon a variety of sectors, including agriculture, trade and investment, defence, maritime connectivity, education, health and tourism, amongstst others,” the statement said.
The visit will also see the two countries sign a number of memoranda of understanding in various sectors, such as agriculture, technical education, health and cultural cooperation.
Amongst other engagements, Prime Minister Rajapaksa will visit the National Martyrs’ Memorial, where he will lay a wreath to pay his respects to those who died in the Bangladesh War of Independence and plant a sapling. Later, the Prime Minister will also visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
Bangladesh became a nation in 1971 and established formal diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka the following year. Both countries will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2022.
(FT)