Bangladesh Foreign Minister arrives to boost ties with Sri Lanka

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen is on a two-day visit to Colombo upon invitation from Sri Lankan Foreign Minister M.U.M. Ali Sabry to participate in the celebration of 75th Independence Day of Sri Lanka as “Honoured Guest”.

On the first day of his visit, yesterday he called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees in the afternoon. They reiterated the importance of further enhancing on-going sectoral collaboration between the two South Asian neighbours. They especially focused on trade facilitation, business and investment, cooperation in tourism and connectivity. Earlier, Foreign Minister Momen attended a lunch hosted by the Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.

In the evening, Foreign Minister delivered the prestigious “Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture” titled “Shared Prosperity: A vision for South Asia”. In his deliberations, paying his deep tribute to late Kadirgamar, the Foreign Minister shared his perspective of collective aspiration of South Asian community and the goals that South Asia could collectively pursue for the sake of shared prosperity. Kadirgamar who is the life member of the Laksman Kadirgamar Institute delivered the welcome remarks. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister also spoke on the occasion and reflected on the life and works of late Kadirgamar.

The lecture, instituted in the memory of Sri Lanka’s most renowned Foreign Minister and statesman late Lakshman Kadirgamar, had been delivered earlier by various world leaders and is considered a great honour conferred upon foreign dignitaries. The lecture was attended by high dignitaries of Sri Lanka including Ministers, Chief Justice, Judges, Attorney General, Forces Chiefs, academia, business entrepreneurs as well as diplomatic community based in Colombo.

In the evening, Foreign Minister graced a cultural festival “LankaraLanka” at the historic Independence Hall featuring traditional performing arts of Sri Lanka. It was also graced by Sri Lankan President and visiting South Asian Ministers.

Foreign Minister Momen is scheduled to attend the main event “Independence Day Parade” on 4 February morning. He is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. He will also call on President Ranil Wickremesinghe and attend the reception to be hosted by the President. Besides, he is expected to meet some of the visiting South Asian counterparts on the side-line.