Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday directed the officials concerned to send more necessary materials and goods to Sri Lanka to help the island nation to the face the crisis caused by recent floods.
The directives came following a meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena in Nagoya. Tokyo, UNB News Agency Reported.
PM’s Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, Economic Relations Division (ERD) Senior Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque jointly briefed reporters after the meeting.
During the meeting, the PM’s Press Secretary said, the Sri Lankan President gave a requirement of his country before the Prime Minister to tackle the recent flood.
“After getting the list, the Prime Minister instantly directed the officials concerned to send items as per the requirement,” he said.Ihasanul Karim said Bangladesh has already sent various items to Sri Lanka for the same purpose and is sending more. “Bangladesh has already sanctioned Tk 10 crore in this connection.”
Terming the age-old relations between the two counties excellent, both the Sri Lankan President and Bangladesh Prime Minister agreed and promised to take forward the ties to a newer height.The Sri Lankan President said his country is going through a reconciliation process and wants to restore a congenial atmosphere in the country.
Abul Kalam Azad said Hasina requested the Sri Lankan President to import jute and jute-made goods from Bangladesh apart of pharmaceutical items. “The Sri Lankan side expressed their interest in this regard,” he added.
He also said the Sri Lankan President discussed the introduction of Dhaka-Colombo direct flight and the Prime Minister also expressed her interest to this end.
Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque said the Prime Minister invited the Sri Lankan President to visit Bangladesh and he accepted it. “There’s possibility of his tour in Bangladesh in the coming December,” he said.
