Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa arrives in Dhaka

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Dhaka this morning on a two-day official visit, the second of the world leaders to attend the celebrations of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence.

A VVIP flight of Sri Lankan Airlines, carrying the Sri Lankan premier along with his wife and other entourage, landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HISA) at 9:45am.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina welcomed him at the VVIP tarmac of the airport by presenting him with a bouquet.

Mahinda Rajapaksa was given a guard of honour by a contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force at the airport.

Sri Lanka PM Rajapaksa and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina witnessed the state honour from a makeshift dais while the national anthem of the respective countries played. Ministers, State Ministers, civil and military high officials among others were present at the airport.

From the airport, the visiting Sri Lankan premier will visit the National Memorial in Savar to pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Dhaka will be followed by the heads of state and government of Nepal, Bhutan and India.

In the afternoon, the Sri Lankan PM will attend the National Parade Square function at Tejgaon as the Guest of Honour.

In the evening, he will attend a cultural programme and banquet to be hosted by the Bangladesh premier at Grand Ball Room of Hotel InterContinental.

On Saturday, Rajapaksa will have bilateral talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office and then there will be signing of MoUs. Both the leaders will witness the signing ceremony.

In the afternoon, he will meet President Md Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.