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Friday, 27 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The MOU was initially proposed during Sirisena’s visit to Bangladesh in April 2013 as a measure to improve the efficiency of supplying pharmaceuticals and medical devices to Sri Lankan government hospitals on a Government-to-Government basis.
During his visit to Bangladesh, Minister Sirisena called on his Bangladesh counterpart at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The discussion between the Ministers underlined the robust nature of the bilateral relations and the opportunities for promoting cooperation between the countries. The two Ministers recognised the importance of close collaboration by both countries as regional partners in the field of medicine and pharmaceuticals.
Sirisena in his remarks expressed the hope that the MOU would enable Bangladesh to become an important partner in Sri Lanka’s socio-economic development and stated that this MOU symbolised the goodwill and a humanitarian gesture by the people and the Government of Bangladesh towards Sri Lanka, rather than a commercial undertaking.
The Minister stressed that signing of this MOU was a historic moment as this was the first-ever pharmaceutical procurement MOU signed by the Government of Sri Lanka with any foreign government or an institution. He elaborated that under the provisions of the MOU, the Government of Sri Lanka will be able to maintain the high standards of healthcare in the country and ensure uninterrupted supply of high quality, essential medicines in Sri Lanka.
He also welcomed Bangladesh investors to take advantage of the conducive atmosphere and emerging opportunities in the pharmaceuticals sector in Sri Lanka. He added that Sri Lanka was able to sign an MOU in the field of nurses training in November 2013 and hoped the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh could share expertise and look for synergies in partnership in the medical field.
During their discussions, the Bangladesh Health and Family Welfare Minister, recalling the friendly and strong bilateral ties between the two countries, noted the similarities in the challenges faced by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as developing countries in South Asia and agreed on the need for closer political and economic collaboration.
Speaking on the occasion of the signing of the MOU, Minister Nasim briefed the Sri Lanka delegation that presently Bangladesh exports pharmaceutical products to nearly 90 countries and is one of the growth industries of its economy. He assured that Government of Bangladesh will be able to supply Sri Lanka with high quality medicines at the best price under the provisions of this MOU.
On the same day, Minister Sirisena called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh A.H. Mahmood Ali. Both Ministers noted the very close cooperation between the two countries in international fora and expressed sincere appreciation for the steadfast support extended by Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, particularly at the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Recalling the close and warm relations enjoyed by the leadership of both countries and the strong people to people contact, Minister Sirisena thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Bangladesh’s understanding and support in respect of Sri Lanka’s post-conflict reconciliation, development process and initiatives taken by the Government of Sri Lanka to resolve issues in keeping with its own priorities and aspirations. Some of the other topics of discussion included ongoing cooperation between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the fields of trade, investment and shipping and connectivity.
The Bangladesh Foreign Minister commended Sri Lanka’s resilience against numerous challenges and hardship during the post-conflict period and noted with appreciation the emergence of Sri Lanka as a country with significant potential to move forward. He reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to further strengthen political and economic relations with Sri Lanka in the coming years.
During his visit, Minister Sirisena paid to visit to the Essential Drug Company Ltd. (EDCL) which is a 100% State-owned Bangladesh pharmaceutical company. He and the accompanying delegation held discussions with senior officials of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the officials of the EDCL on the modalities of implementation of the signed MOU. The members of the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) were also present.
Minister Sirisena met with Sri Lankan community at an interaction organised by the High Commission of Sri Lanka at the Chancery premises on 22 June and briefed the Sri Lankan community on the current developments in Sri Lanka and shared views with the community on a number of issues.
The gathering included office bearers of Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Association, Sri Lanka Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka Bangladesh Friendship Cricket Association, Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Seva Vanitha Unit of the High Commission and staff of the Sri Lanka High Commission.
The Sri Lanka delegation for the visit included Dr. P.G. Mahipala, Director General, Health Services, N.A.D.R.L. Dharmathilleke, Managing Director – State Pharmaceutical Corporation, Dr. J.H.M.K.K.B. Jayasinghe, Director, Medical Supplies Division and D. Anil Wasantha Wanigasuriya, Chief Accountant, Ministry of Health. The Sri Lanka High Commission in Bangladesh was represented by Actg. High Commissioner A.G. Abeysekera and First Secretary Sesath Thambugala.
