People-to-people contact vital for economic ties - President Rajapaksa

Text of the full speech by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the State Banquet on April 19, 2011 hosted by Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman

President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the State Banquet hosted by Bangladesh Presidetnt Zillur Rahman on Tuesday said Sri Lanka and Bangladesh share a long-standing friendship based on history and old civilizations.

The President said our cultural links and commonalities go back many centuries. People to people contact should be encouraged as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are on the path of accelerated development.

“It gives me immense pleasure to be in Bangladesh on my first state visit since I assumed the Office of President. I bring with me warm greetings and good wishes from the Government and the People of Sri Lanka to the Government and the friendly People of Bangladesh.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman. Picture by Sudath Silva

I am honoured and deeply touched the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to me and my delegation during our stay in your beautiful country.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh share a long-standing friendship based on history and old civilizations, with cultural links and commonalities. The origins of our ties go back many centuries. According to our great chronicle, the Mahavansa, Prince Vijaya and his 700 followers, who are our forefathers, had come to Sri Lanka from ancient Bengal, which is now part of Bangladesh. History and culture bind us together.

Our nation has now entered an era of peace following the decisive victory in May 2009 over the forces of terrorism. Today we stand undivided and under one flag, committed to achieving sustainable economic prosperity to be shared by all communities, enabling them to reap the dividends of peace.

I wish to express our appreciation to the Government and the People of Bangladesh for their understanding and support which were offered to us in our efforts to achieve peace.

As a country which has overcome the challenge of terrorism, Sri Lanka is especially happy to work along with Bangladesh - also a country which has been affected by terrorist violence - now that both countries are on the path of accelerated economic development.

I would also like to pay tribute to the personal courage and dedication of Madam Sheik Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, whose beloved father laid foundation of this country and made the supreme sacrifice for its welfare.

Our bilateral relations have now also extended to the fields of business and economic cooperation which has much potential to expand further. I am happy to note that Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have invested in each other’s economies in a variety of sectors including manufacturing and services sectors. I am confident that our economic partnership will be further strengthened following the Agreements that were signed yesterday.

It is of vital importance to encourage people-to-people contact between our two countries. Such contacts and interactions will contribute immensely in posturing the long-standing friendship we share and enhance our economic ties as well. In this context, the air connectivity between Colombo and Dhaka has given a further impetus for the people of our two countries to strengthen their mutual understanding and goodwill.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been working closely together to advance regional cooperation through SAARC and BIMST-EC. I wish to recall that it was Bangladesh which was the first country to propose the concept of SAARC. Since then, both our countries have endeavoured to make positive contributions towards strengthening SAARC. There is also encouraging progress in the role played by our two countries in BIMST-EC. I am happy to note that the BIMST-EC Secretariat will be established in Bangladesh.

There are many challenges ahead of us at a time when the world has witnessed many natural and man-made disasters. The magnitude of these disasters is so great that they should be addressed in a collective and constructive manner. We could address these issues through regional and international cooperation. In this context, Sri Lanka too survived the devastation caused by the Asian Tsunami in December 2004 and the recent, unprecedented climate change and flooding.

Due to the 30-year-old conflict which severely affected Sri Lanka there were large-scale displacements of people. I am pleased to inform you that, following the defeat of terrorism, we have now resettled over 95 percent of those who were displaced and their livelihoods restored. Our aim now is to ensure the re-settlement of the remaining persons in the shortest possible time frame.

Sri Lanka has accomplished the difficult task of defeating terrorism, and is now engaged in the dual tasks of setting the country on the accelerated path of economic development, and addressing issues connected with reconciliation.

It is important for countries of our region to insist that we should have the space to evolve solutions based on our own culture and value systems, without undue interference by external forces. I wish to express my sincere appreciation once again for all the arrangements made to make my State Visit to Bangladesh a memorable and successful one. I believe this visit will pave the way for further engagements at every level between our two countries and strengthen our economic and cultural ties.

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now express our best wishes, to the good health and well-being of His Excellency President Zillur Rahman and the Hon. Prime Minister Madam Sheikh Hasina to the enduring friendship between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and to the peace and prosperity of the People of Bangladesh

I thank you.