Sri Lanka has highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s policies and measures in dealing with terrorism while the two South Asian countries eye to work more closely on potential areas to have a stronger bilateral relationship.  

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen had a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Admiral (Professor) Jayanath Colombage in the Sri Lankan capital on Monday and discussed issues of mutual interest.

The two Foreign Secretaries laid emphasis on bringing more momentum in the bilateral relations through expeditious convening of meetings of various bilateral forums, including the Preferential Trade Agreement.

At the meeting they pledged to continue the current trend of relations and to continue cooperative relations in international forums.

READ: Bangladesh’s relations with Sri Lanka will grow further, Hasina says in a video message

During the bilateral meeting, the two Foreign Secretaries expressed satisfaction over the ongoing close ties and communication between the two countries, despite the Covid-19 overcrowding.

The Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka described the 50th anniversary of friendly diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as a unique milestone.

At the meeting, the two Foreign Secretaries agreed to hold a proper ceremony to mark the milestone.

They emphasized the importance of expanding bilateral trade and cooperation in the tourism sector using direct shipping lines.

In this regard, Foreign Secretary Masud requested his Sri Lankan counterpart to introduce special facilities for Bangladesh at the Colombo Port.

Besides, the Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh drew the attention of the Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary to boosting people-to-people communication and reducing air ticket prices for Bangladeshi transit passengers.

The Foreign Secretary, who attended the 22nd BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting here, is scheduled to return home Tuesday.

Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Tareq Md Ariful Islam, among others, joined the meeting.