UNB, Savar :
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday paid respect to the Liberation War martyrs at the National Martyr’s Memorial here.
Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq and General Commanding Officer, 9th infantry division received the Sri Lankan President on his arrival at the National Martyr’s Memorial at 3:40pm.
President Sirisena attended a ceremony and signed the visitor’s book and planted a sapling there after placing wreaths. The Sri Lankan President visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Dhanmondi in the city in the afternoon.Prime Minister’s family member Saima W Hossain, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and CEO of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust Mashura Hossain received the Lankan President at the museum.
President Sirisena placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu and stood in solemn silence there for some time as a mark of respect to the founder of Bangladesh and visited the museum and signed the visitor’s book there. He went round the museum accompanied by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s granddaughter Saima Wazed.
Sirisena arrived here on Thursday morning on a three-day state visit to Bangladesh, highlighting the growing ties between the two countries.
A Sri Lankan Airlines flight carrying President Sirisena and his 73-member entourage comprising ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers and business community members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:25am. President Abdul Hamid welcomed the Sri Lankan President at the airport amid gun salute and guard of honour. Upon arrival, the Lankan President was escorted to his place of residence-Sonargaon Hotel-in a ceremonial motorcade. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold official talks with Sri Lankan President Sirisena at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday morning with a special focus on trade and investment.
Before the official talks, they will have tete-a-tete at the same venue from 10am Friday.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam on Wednesday said over 10 agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed between the two countries after the official talks.
The Sri Lankan President will meet President Abdul Hamid this evening. The President will also host State banquet in honour of the Sri Lankan President at the Darbar Hall, Bangabhaban preceded by a cultural programme. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Opposition Leader in Parliament Raushan Ershad and Health Minister Mohammed Nasim will, among others, meet the Sri Lankan President.
Sirisena will address an economic dialogue on Saturday morning to be attended by Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan business representatives. He is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 1 pm on Saturday by a Sri Lankan Airlines flight wrapping up his three-day visit. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will see him off at the airport.
This is Sirisena’s first official visit to Bangladesh since he was elected Sri Lankan President in 2015. He visited Bangladesh in 2013 and 2014 as Sri Lankan Health Minister.
