Ittefaq Report
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena arrived at Dhaka on Thursday for a three-day state visit to Bangladesh, highlighting the growing ties between the two countries.
A Sri Lankan Airlines flight carrying President Sirisena and his 73-member entourage comprising ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers and business community members landed at Shahjalal Airport at 11:25am.
President Abdul Hamid welcomed Sri Lankan President at the airport amid gun salute and guard of honour.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold official talks with Sri Lankan President Sirisena at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday morning, according to the programme schedule.
Bilateral issues including trade and investment, agriculture, coastal shipping, education, ICT and visa related matters will dominate the official talks between Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday.
During the visit of the Sri Lankan President, more than 10 deals would be signed between the two countries.
The deals would be signed on agricultural cooperation, higher education, coastal shipping and visa rebate for official and diplomatic passport holders, cooperation between the two country’s investment authorities, collaboration in ICT and banking sectors, transmission of radio, film and television and news agencies.
After arriving, the Lankan President will be escorted to his place of residence — Sonargaon Hotel — in a ceremonial motorcade from where he will head for National Martyr’s Memorial, Savar to pay respect to the martyrs of Liberation.
A ceremony will be attended by him at 3:40pm on Thursday and will sign visitor’s book there in presence of Housing and Public Works and Liberation War Affairs Ministers.
Later, the Sri Lankan President will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Dhanmondi on Thursday.
Prime Minister’s family member Saima W Hossain, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and CEO of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust Mashura Hossain will receive the Lankan President at the museum at 4:40pm.
PM Sheikh Hasina will hold official talks with Sri Lankan President Sirisena at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday morning, according to the programme schedule.
Before the official talks, they will have tete-a-tete at the same venue from 10am Friday.
He will leave Dhaka at 1pm on Saturday by a Sri Lankan Airlines flight wrapping up his three-day visit. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will see him off at the airport.
This is Sirisena’s first official visit to Bangladesh since he was elected Sri Lankan President in 2015. He visited Bangladesh in 2013 and 2014 as Sri Lankan Health Minister.
