Bangladesh High Commissioner meets Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister

The Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Tarik Ahsan, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera at the new Secretariat in Colombo on 20 May.

The Secretary to the Ministry, Nimal Hettiarachchi, was also present during the visit. The High Commissioner was accompanied by a two-member business delegation from Bangladesh comprising Sarwar Hussain and Azizus Samad Azad Dawn. 

During the meeting, the Bangladesh High Commissioner sought the support of the Minister in advancing cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the fishing sector. The High Commissioner also highlighted the policy of the Bangladeshi Government to encourage the involvement of the private sector in harnessing opportunities that have been created for Bangladesh in the Bay of Bengal following the amicable establishment of a maritime boundary with Bangladesh’s neighbours. The business delegation showed keen interest in collaborating with Sri Lankan counterparts in the areas of deep sea fishing.

The Minister promised to carry forward cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the production, management and protection of fish resources in the two countries’ respective territories. Discussions focused on the implementation and possible review of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Fisheries between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, increasing cooperation particularly in the areas of deep sea fishing, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, fish stock assessment, oceanography and human resources development in this sector.