Rajapaksa came up with the view during a meeting with President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.

President Hamid welcomed the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka when he visited Bangabhaban at around 4.15 pm.

President's press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting. 

During the meeting, Rajapaksa praised the socio-economic development of Bangladesh and said that Bangladesh is moving forward on the path of rapid development. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh can contribute to the socio-economic development of the two countries by sharing their respective development experiences, he said. 

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The Press Secretary said, “President Hamid welcomed the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and thanked for attending the event organized on the occasion of the celebration of Bangabandhu's birth centenary and golden jubilee of independence.”

The President said, “Bangladesh and Sri Lanka share the same views on various issues in various regional and international forums. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have made significant progress in the areas of information technology, agriculture, health, education, tourism and services, he said. 

The exchange of experiences between the two countries will create more opportunities for the development of these sectors, the President added.

He also urged the investors of the two countries to come forward in this regard.

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The President said about 30,000 Sri Lankan workers work in various productive and service sectors in Bangladesh. Through this, they are contributing to the economic development of the two countries as well as increasing people-to-people contacts.

He added that many Sri Lankan students study medical and engineering in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is ready to provide educational opportunities to more Sri Lankan students.

President Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh is moving fast in various sectors and it has received a final recommendation to move from a least developed country to a developing country. 

He called upon Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to identify potential investment sectors and take joint action to harness them.

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Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Sri Lankan Education Minister GL Paris, and state ministers were present. Officials from the two countries were also present.

The Sri Lankan Prime Minister arrived in Dhaka on Friday morning on a two-day visit. In the afternoon, he addressed a function organized at the National Parade Ground on the occasion of Bangabandhu's birth centenary celebration and golden jubilee of independence.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Minister of Education, State Minister for Regional Cooperation, State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms, State Minister of Batik, Handloom Fabric and Local Apparel Products and State Minister of Rural Housing and Construction and Building Material Industries, Secretary to the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and senior government officials of Sri Lanka. 

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After meeting the President, Rajapaksa signed the inspection book at the gallery hall of Bangabhaban.

Secretaries concerned to the President were also present during the meeting.