DHAKA: Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Tarik Ahsan paid a courtesy call on the newly elected President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirissena.

They met at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Tarik Ahsan conveyed the greetings of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Sri Lankan President and reiterated her invitation to him to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

The High Commissioner also lauded the steps taken by the new government of Sri Lanka under President Sirisena for promoting compassionate and good governance for all Sri Lankans.

He sought the support of President Sirisena in the efforts for advancing bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Later, he focused on the areas of cooperation in trade, pharmaceuticals, shipping, culture and people-to-people contact.

President Sirisena also conveyed his regards to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and good wishes to the people of Bangladesh.

He recalled the commonalities of history, culture, values and ethnicity between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and expressed satisfaction at the close cooperation between the two countries bilaterally and multilaterally.

He assured the High Commissioner of his government’s full cooperation in further strengthening the bilateral relation.

The Lankan President also recalled his visits to Bangladesh in 2013 and 2014 in the capacity of Health Minister of Sri Lanka.

He expressed his intention to visit Bangladesh in near future.

BDST: 1703 HRS, MAR 20, 2015