New air links between Lanka and Bangladesh

The establishment of new air links between Sri Lanka and Dhaka was among the key items discussed between the Head of State and Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed and President Mahinda Rajapaksa at bilateral talks at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday.

The Bangladeshi leader, who commented favourably on the historical ties and friendship between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, recalled the story of the arrival of Prince Vijaya to Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa stated the continuing friendship between the two countries manifested the people to people relations between them, which were continuing to progress.

It was agreed that with the envisaged new air links between the two countries would increase connectivity in many aspects, promote greater trade, investment and cultural exchanges between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The two leaders agreed that Sri Lanka-Bangladeshi relations were progressing well, especially with Sri Lankan investment in the garment sector and banking sectors in Bangladesh, and saw new opportunities for expanded trade links in the future.

The Bangladeshi leader appreciated the presence of large number of Sri Lankan medical students in Bangladesh. President Rajapaksa thanked Bangladesh for the gift of a Hair Relic of the Buddha to Sri Lanka, and said this was worshipped by a large number of people on Full Moon Poya day.

The two leaders exchanged views on democratisation in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where President Rajapaksa referred to the new changes that have taken place in the East, with the liberation of the East from terror and the restoration of democracy there.

They also discussed the development of cricket which is a popular sport in both countries and saw in this the possibility for better sporting and friendly contact between people of the two countries.

The Sri Lankan delegation comprised Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Higher Education Minister Prof. Wiswa Warnapala, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Bangladesh V. Krishnamoorthy, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona, Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundara, Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath, Additional Secretary to the Foreign Ministry Prasad Kariyawasam and Coordinating Secretary to the President Sajin Vas Gunawardena.

The Bangladesh delegation comprised Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain, Principal Secretary to Chief Adviser Ali Imam Majunder, Shahdat Hossain - High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Press Secretary to Chief Adviser Syed Fahim Munaim, Director General (South Asia) Bangladesh Foreign Ministry Mahbub-uz-Zamanand, Director General (SAARC) Bangladesh Foreign Ministry Karzi Imitiaz Hossain.