Stepping-up cooperation:
Bangladesh - Sri Lanka joint statement
At the invitation of Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh, Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic
Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka paid a State visit to Bangladesh from
April 18-20. The President of Sri Lanka was accorded a ceremonial
welcome on arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in
Dhaka on April 18.
The President was received by President of Bangladesh, Zillur Rahman.
The Bangladesh President later hosted a State Banquet in his honour on
April 19.
Dr. Dipu Moni, the Minister for Foreign Affairs paid a courtesy call
on the President of Sri Lanka. During the visit, President Rajapaksa
placed a wreath at the National Mausoleum at Savar and visited the
Bangabandhu Museum in Dhaka.
The official talks between the two sides were held in a friendly and
cordial atmosphere. Both sides noted with satisfaction that relations
between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are characterized by warmth and
friendliness. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh expressed her happiness
that the long awaited visit of the Sri Lankan President had finally
materialized. The two leaders were in agreement that high-level visits
including at the level of the parliamentarians, especially based on
Parliamentary Friendship Associations established in each of the
National Parliaments, were extremely useful for promoting greater
understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh congratulated President Mahinda
Rajapaksa on the decisive victory against terrorism in Sri Lanka and
reaffirmed Bangladesh's support for the sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Sri Lanka.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and
the Government of Bangladesh for their steadfast support in combating
separatist terrorism in Sri Lanka, and in this context, for extending
support to Sri Lanka at international forums, including the UN Human
Rights Council.
The President of Sri Lanka also thanked the Government of Bangladesh
for dispatching a consignment of much needed medicine as emergency
relief assistance to the victims of the recent floods in Sri Lanka.
The two sides underscored the need for re-activating the relevant
institutional mechanisms for mutual cooperation. They recognized the
Bangladesh Sri Lanka Joint Economic Commission as an effective mechanism
to further enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in
many spheres. They agreed that the fourth Session of the Joint Economic
Commission should be held as soon as possible.
Both sides agreed that the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka, though showing positive trends, was far below the potential and
did not reflect the cordial political relations. It was agreed that the
two countries would undertake measures for trade facilitation including
identification and removal of non-tariff barriers and simplification and
harmonization of mutually recognized standards. Both sides also agreed
to diversify the basket of tradable goods and looked for innovative ways
to add fresh impetus to trade and commercial relations. In this context,
both sides underscored the need to reduce further the number of items
under SAFTA from each other's negative lists.
Both sides noted with satisfaction that a number of Sri Lankan
business houses have invested in Bangladesh to the mutual benefit of
both parties. Bangladesh welcomed more Sri Lankan investment in sectors
such as textiles, knitwear, linen, leather, pharmaceuticals, agro-based
industries and steel & engineering, IT, education, health and
hospitality etc. President Mahinda Rajapaksa invited the Bangladesh
business sector to seek out new opportunities available in Sri Lanka
following the end of the conflict. Both sides underscored the need for
setting up of more joint venture industries in each others country. In
this context, the two leaders agreed that the finalization of the
proposed Agreement on Investment Promotion and Protection should be
completed as early as possible.
Both sides noted the necessity for air connectivity between the two
countries for increased exchange and interaction. They expressed
satisfaction at the commencement of operations between Colombo and Dhaka
by Mihin Lanka. They agreed that the existing Air Services Agreement
would be revisited to make it more responsive to current needs,
including the facilitation of transport of air cargo. They directed
their respective civil aviation authorities to commence negotiations on
liberalization of the air services regime between the two countries.
The two leaders agreed that shipping is one of the areas that has
great potential for mutual cooperation. They expressed satisfaction that
the shipping authorities of the two countries were engaged in reviewing
the existing Shipping Services Agreement between the two countries to
make it more suitable for the present. The President of Sri Lanka
requested the Bangladesh side to consider resuming the feeder service
for Chittagong and Mongla Ports via Colombo and also invited a team from
Bangladesh to visit the newly developed Hambantota deep sea Port and the
upgraded facilities at the Colombo Port. The Bangladesh side agreed to
send a team to Sri Lanka in the near future to explore the potential for
mutual cooperation and the resumption of the feeder service.
Both sides noted that there was tremendous potential for cooperation
in the tourism sector. Bangladesh side proposed that tour operators from
both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh draw up special packages for people
interested in visiting Buddhist religious sites.
In response to the request from Bangladesh, the Sri Lankan side
agreed to provide training to nurses from Bangladesh in Sri Lanka.
Officials of the concerned Ministries would meet at an early date and
finalise details in this regard.
Recognizing the common historical and cultural linkages between the
two countries, both sides noted that there was a need to encourage more
frequent visits between cultural troupes of the two countries to promote
understanding and interaction between the peoples of Bangladesh and Sri
Lanka.
Both sides also agreed to facilitate programmes of youth exchange
between the two countries with a view to promoting goodwill and
understanding. Bangladesh expressed readiness to welcome more students
from Sri Lanka to pursue higher studies in educational institutions in
Bangladesh. Both sides observed that there existed immense scope for
cooperation in the areas of agriculture, fisheries and livestock between
the two countries and agreed to cooperate under the aegis of the MoUs
signed in this regard.
Both sides expressed satisfaction with the ongoing level of
cooperation between the defense forces of the two countries through
exchange of training and goodwill visits. They agreed to promote further
exchange and interaction between the defense forces.
Both sides noted with satisfaction that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have
been closely engaged in international and regional forums, including
SAARC, BIMSTEC, IOR-ARC, etc. and agreed to continue to remain engaged
on issues of common concern for mutual benefit.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina on Dhaka being selected as the venue for the BIMST-EC
Secretariat. The Prime Minister expressed the deep appreciation to the
Government of Sri Lanka for their graciousness and support towards a
consensus in favour of establishing the Secretariat in Dhaka. Sri Lanka
would take necessary steps to nominate the first Secretary General of
the BIMST-EC Secretariat.
Bangladesh side sought Sri Lanka's support for Bangladesh's
candidature for the non-permanent membership of the UNSC for the period
of 2016-17. The Sri Lanka side assured that the request for support
would be accorded due consideration.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa requested the cooperation of the
Government of Bangladesh to obtain the Sacred Hair Relics of Lord Buddha
presently enshrined in a Buddhist Monastery in Chittagong for exposition
in Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh assured the cooperation
of the Bangladesh side in arranging this exposition. The President also
expressed his appreciation for Bangladesh's gesture of sending artefacts
for exhibition at the International Buddhist Museum at the Temple of the
Tooth Relic in Kandy.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the President of Sri Lanka
witnessed the signing of the following agreements/MoUs: a. MoU between
the Export Development Board (EDB) of Sri Lanka and the Export Promotion
Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh
b. MoU between the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Development of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of
Bangladesh for cooperation in the relevant fields
c. MoU between Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and
Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) on
cooperation in agriculture
d. MoU between Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) of
Sri Lanka and the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) of Bangladesh
for exchanging documentation and related material.
e. Cultural Exchange Programme between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for
the years 2011-2014
The President of Sri Lanka expressed his deep appreciation to the
Government of Bangladesh for the warm hospitality and cordial welcome
extended to him and the members of his delegation during the visit.
Bangladesh Prime Minister accepted the gracious invitation of the Sri
Lanka President to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time, the
dates for which would be finalized through diplomatic channels.
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