Ministerial-level talks held Bangladesh, Lanka to expand trade
BSS, Dhaka

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka yesterday agreed to expand bilateral trade between the two countries and take measures for establishing greater connectivity.

The decision came at a ministerial level talks between the two countries at the State Guest House Padma.

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury led the Bangladesh delegation at the talks while the three-member visiting Sri Lankan ministerial delegation was led by the foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

Briefing newsmen after the talks, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said the discussions, held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere, were extremely fruitful.

"The two sides stressed that the bilateral trade between Dhaka and Colombo should be expanded for the mutual benefit of the two countries," Chowdhury said.

He said Sri Lanka evinced keen interest in importing cement, potatoes and pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh. He said a trade delegation from Bangladesh would visit Sri Lanka soon to make a feasibility study in this regard.

The adviser said the recently concluded SAARC Summit put emphasis on greater connectivity and Dhaka and Colombo have agreed to connect the two capitals at the talks.

He informed the newsmen that an aviation team from Sri Lanka would visit Bangladesh in this connection.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the two sides held 'comprehensive' talks on various aspects of the bilateral relations. He said they have agreed to expand economic ties further for the mutual benefits of the two peoples.

Stressing the need for an immediate link between the two capitals, he said direct air link was needed for greater connectivity. Besides SAARC, he said Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, are also members of BIMSTEC and should work together for further enhancing the bilateral relations.

Mr. Bogollagama said the Sri Lankan businessmen could also make investments in Bangladesh.

He thanked Bangladesh government for its decision to present some pieces of hair of Lord Buddha for the people of Sri Lanka as a gesture of goodwill.

He expressed the hope that the existing friendly relations between Dhaka and Colombo would be further strengthened with the visit of his delegation.

The Sri Lankan ministers arrived here last night on a three-day visit at the invitation of Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury to receive some pieces of hair of Lord Gautam Buddha's kept at the 19th century Buddhist monastery in the port city of Chitagong.

The other members of the delegation are Minister for Trade, Marketing Development and Cooperative Bundula Gunewardene and Minister for Religious Affairs Pandu Bandaranaike.