The Third Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, co-chaired by the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries was held on 03^rd July 2017 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Mr. Md. Shahibul Haque, Secretary of the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and the Sri Lankan delegation was led by Esala Weerakoon, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka that included Yasoja Gunasekera,  High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh and officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Higher Education & Highways, Department of Commerce and Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

The two sides discussed ways and means to strengthen bilateral cooperation and to develop close trade and economic links between the two countries. The discussions also focused on possible trade and shipping opportunities in the Bay of Bengal and cooperation in the fields of Higher Education, Human Resources Developments, Health, Finance and Agriculture. Legal instruments in the fields of Shipping, Investment, Agriculture, Finance, Trade, Human Resources Development and ICT were also discussed at the consultative meeting.

Foreign Secretary Weerakoon thanked the government of Bangladesh for its generous financial donation towards the welfare of victims of the recent flood and landslide in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Secretary Esala Weerakoon also paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Hon. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali during the visit. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Colombo

03 July 2017