Solutions should be based on our culture, value systems

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa commending the support extended by the Government of Bangladesh and its people in achieving peace said that Sri Lanka was happy to work with Bangladesh, which has also been affected by terrorist violence, to accelerate economic development.

The President, who had a successful three-day official visit to Bangladesh told a gathering including Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, Prime Minister Madam Sheikh Hasina and several Ministers at the state banquet: “Our nation has now entered an era of peace following the decisive victory in May 2009 over the forces of terrorism.

Today we stand undivided under one flag, committed to achieving sustainable economic prosperity to be shared by all communities, enabling them to reap the dividends of peace.

It is important for countries of our region to insist that we should have the space to evolve solutions based on our own culture and value systems, without undue interference by external forces.”

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh share a long-standing friendship based on history and old civilisations, with cultural links and commonalities.

The origins of our ties go back to many centuries. According to our great chronicle, the Mahavansa, Prince Vijaya and his 700 followers, who are our forefathers, had come to Sri Lanka from ancient Bengal, which is now part of Bangladesh. History and culture bind us together.”

“Our bilateral relations have now extended to the fields of business and economic cooperation which has much potential to expand further. I am happy to note that Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have invested in each others economies in a variety of sectors including manufacturing and services sectors. I am confident that our economic partnership will be further strengthened following the agreements that were signed recently.

It is of vital importance to encourage people-to-people contact between our two countries.

Such contacts and interactions will contribute immensely in posturing the long-standing friendship we share and enhance our economic ties as well.

In this context, the air connectivity between Colombo and Dhaka has given a further impetus for the people of our two countries to strengthen their mutual understanding and goodwill”.

“Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been working closely together to advance regional cooperation through SAARC and BIMST-EC. I wish to recall that it was Bangladesh which was the first country to propose the concept of SAARC. Since then, both our countries have endeavoured to make positive contributions towards strengthening SAARC.

There is also encouraging progress in the role played by our two countries in BIMST-EC. I am happy to note that the BIMST-EC Secretariat will be established in Bangladesh”.

“There are many challenges ahead of us at a time when the world has witnessed many natural and man-made disasters.

The magnitude of these disasters is so great that they should be addressed in a collective and constructive manner.

We could address these issues through regional and international cooperation. In this context, Sri Lanka too survived the devastation caused by the Asian tsunami in December 2004 and the recent, unprecedented climate change and flooding.

Due to the 30-year-old conflict which severely affected Sri Lanka there were large-scale displacements of people.

I am pleased to inform you that, following the defeat of terrorism, we have now resettled over 95 percent of those who were displaced and their livelihoods restored.

Our aim is now to ensure the re-settlement of the remaining persons in the shortest possible time frame.

Sri Lanka has accomplished the difficult task of defeating terrorism, and is now engaged in the dual tasks of setting the country on the accelerated path of economic development and addressing issues connected with reconciliation.

It is important for countries of our region to insist that we should have the space to evolve solutions based on our own culture and value systems, without undue interference by external forces”, he said.

The two leaders had a meeting where bilateral matters and regional and international issues of common interest like terrorism and countering terrorism, as well as food security and cooperation in the shipping sector were discussed.

President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka would consider Bangladesh’s candidature as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and stressed strengthening exchange of visits in different fields including businessmen between the two countries.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on agriculture, education, livestock, information, and commerce cooperation, followed by the discussions between President Rajapaksa and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The five MoUs include cooperation between Export Development Board of Sri Lanka and Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh; cooperation between the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh; and cooperation between Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and Sri Lankan Council for Agriculture Research Policy.

The MoUs also include cooperation between Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Education Ministry; and bilateral cooperation on cultural, educational and scientific exchange programs.

President Rajapaksa also met the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, who said the President’s visit would further strengthen the bilateral relations between two trusted friends, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa returned from Bangladesh on Wednesday with Sacred Hair Relics of the Buddha.

Following a request made by President Rajapaksa during his visit, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agreed to release the Buddha’s Hair Relics deposited at Chittagong to be taken to Sri Lanka for public exposition to mark the 2600th Sri Sambuddhatva Jayanthi commemoration.