New Bangladesh envoy to Colombo presents credentials

Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Tarik Ahsan has presented his credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo.

The High Commission in a media statement on Friday said he conveyed his warm regards of President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Rajapaksa on Thursday.

He expressed hope the relations between the two countries would “deepen and broaden”.

The High Commissioner conveyed condolences and sympathy for the victims of the landslide in UVA Province.

They discussed ways “to translate the warm political relation into greater cooperation in various fields”.

They were happy that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were working “closely and supporting each other in different international and regional organisations”.

Sri Lanka established diplomatic ties with Bangladesh in 1972 soon after independence.

The relations strengthened in recent years when both sides began foreign office consultations.

Both sides also maintain strong political relations at the UN level.

Colombo signed an MoU with Dhaka this year to take medicines through government-to-government mechanism.

Bangladesh has responded positively to export rice to Sri Lanka, changing rules.

President Rajapaksa reiterated that Sri Lanka would continue to work together with Bangladesh and assured High Commissioner of his “full cooperation”.

Sri Lanka’s External Affairs Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris, President`s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and External Affairs Secretary Kshenuka Senewiratne were present during the ceremony.