Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya on Thursday phoned Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and thanked him ‘for the support and expressions of solidarity’ following the devastating cyclone and floods that have killed hundreds and ravaged large parts of Sri Lanka over the past week.
They had the telephone conversation at 6:45 pm (BST), said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
Prof Yunus conveyed his condolences and deep sympathy for the victims.
He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to dispatch additional emergency aid and disaster-response experts to help Sri Lanka cope with the crisis.
“We will be happy to do whatever is needed,” Prof Yunus said.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya, who met the Chief Adviser on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC meeting in Bangkok earlier this year, said her government was currently assessing the damage caused by the heavy rains and widespread flooding.
During the phone call, the Chief Adviser invited the Sri Lankan Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh in the coming months, saying Dhaka hoped to learn from Colombo’s political experience.
Senior Secretary and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Foreign Ministry's concerned Director General were present during the conversation.