Four MoUs signed between Lanka-B’desh

A new Chapter in Sri Lanka-Bangladesh bilateral relations was opened Monday when the two countries entered into four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and signed an exchange program in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a ceremony at the official residence of the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, following talks between the two leaders.

External Affairs Minister Prof G. L. Peiris signed all agreements on behalf of Sri Lanka, said a media release issued by the President’s Media Division.

Bangladesh Education Minister Nural Islam Nahid signed the memorandum of understanding on Tertiary and Vocational Education on behalf of his country while Bangladesh Fisheries Minister Abdul Latif Biswas signed the MoU relating to Fisheries Co-operation.

The release said Bangladesh Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abdul Kalam Azad was the signatory to the Education and Science Exchange program on behalf of Bangladesh while Bangladesh Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury signed the MOU on Agriculture between Sri Lanka’s Agricultural Research Policy Planning Council and Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council.

The MOU on trade promotion between Sri Lanka’s Export Development Board and Bangladesh Export Development Board was signed by Bangladesh Commerce Minister Faruk Khan.

Following the signing ceremony Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hosted a banquet in honour of visiting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his entourage at the Radisson Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka.

Several Senior Bangladeshi Ministers, Security Forces Chiefs and Intellectuals too attended the banquet.