Dhaka, March 19 (Daily Sun): Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is optimistic about his Dhaka visit to attend the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He arrived at 9: 50 am and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received him at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Prime Minister Hasina was accompanied by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam.
Rajapaksa is leading a 27-member delegation, which includes Education Minister GL Peiris, State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekara, State Minister of Rural Housing and Construction and Building Material Industries Indika Anuruddha and State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajit Nivard Cabraal.
Before heading for Dhaka, he left a tweeted message expressing his keenness to attend the birth centenary celebration which may pave the way for consolidating relations between two countries and exploiting trade and other opportunities.
In the tweet, Mahinda Rajapaksa says “As I head to #Bangladesh to participate in the celebrations of the #GoldenJubilee year of their #Independence, I look forward to engaging with PM Sheikh Hasina and the Government of Bangladesh to strengthen the bilateral relationship to mutually benefit both our nations.”
After being accorded reception at the airport, Lankan PM expressed his excitement again in another tweet.
“Arrived to a warm welcome & guard of honor at the Hazrat Shahjalal Int. Airport in Dhaka, #Bangladesh and was received by PM Sheikh Hasina. I’m honored to be a part of the #GoldenJubilee Independence celebrations & look forward to the next two days of festivities & discussions,” he said.
Visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Memorial in Savar
He is the second head of state to be attending Bangladesh’s national programme commemorating birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.He landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport this (Friday) morning. Received by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and accorded military and gun salutes at the airport, he moved to Savar.
After paying homage to Bangladesh liberation war heroes, he visited National Memorial area and planted a sapling on the premises.
Left National Memorial for Dhaka at 11: 14 am.
END
