The President, accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, was greeted by his Bangladeshi counterpart President Zillur Rahman at the airport.
 |
 |
 |
The President was given a guard of honour by a contingent drawn from the three services of the Bangladeshi armed forces. The Sri Lankan President inspected the guard and took the state salute.
 |
The President, who is visiting Bangladesh on the invitation of President Zillur Rahman, is to hold discussions to enhance bilateral relations. This is Sri Lankan President's first official visit to Bangladesh.
A 54-member delegation comprising External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, parliamentarians, top civil and military officials and an 11-member media team accompanied the President.
On arrival, the President is to lay a wreath at National Mausoleum at Savar. He is to hold informal talks with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office today.
Following the talks with the hosts, the President, and his delegation will sign several agreements in the areas of export promotion, business, shipping service, agriculture, fisheries and livestock, education and culture.
The Prime Minister will host a dinner in honour of the Sri Lankan President and the First Lady today.
Tomorrow, President Rajapaksa will lay a wreath on the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Museum. He will also visit Buddhist Temple at Merul Badda in the capital. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) will host a luncheon in honour of the Sri Lankan President.
President Rahman will host a state banquet Tuesday in honour of the Sri Lankan President.
On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the two countries will hold a joint press conference on the outcome of the visit
Ahead of the visit from April 18-20, Sri Lanka's External Affairs Ministry has said President Rajapaksa's visit would reaffirm and further reinforce the friendly and warm relations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
(Photos by Sudath Silva)
No comments:
Post a Comment