Sri Lanka's president to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow

Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena will arrive in Dhaka tomorrow on a three-day state visit, which is expected to further expand the cordial and cooperative relations between the countries.

The much awaited visit will see signing of at least 10 bilateral agreements and memorandum of understanding (MoU) including in key areas of agriculture, coastal shipping, information communication technology, and cooperation between two countries’ media, foreign services and central banks, sources said.

A Sri Lankan Airlines flight carrying President Sirisena and his 73-member entourage comprising ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers and business community members is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:30am.

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid will receive his Lankan counterpart at the airport when 21-gun salute will be heralded in the air to welcome the Sri Lankan dignitaries.  

During his visit, the Sirisena will hold talks with the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President, Abdul Hamid while the foreign minister, health minister, speaker and the opposition leader will also meet the Sri Lankan president for discussions.

This is Sirisena's first official visit to Bangladesh since he was elected as president in January 2015. He however, visited Bangladesh in 2013 and 2014 as Minister of Health of Sri Lanka.