Shawdesh desk:

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is optimistic and curious about Dhaka visit to attend the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He already arrived at 9: 50am and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received him at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Prime Minister Hasina was accompanied by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam.

He is leading a 27-member delegation, which includes Education Minister GL Peiris, State Minister of Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasuriya, State Minister of Batik, Handloom and Local Apparel Products Dayasiri Jayasekara, State Minister of Rural Housing and Construction and Building Material Industries Indika Anuruddha and State Minister of Money and Capital Market and State Enterprise Reforms Ajit Nivrad Cabraal.

Before heading towards Dhaka, he left a tweeted message expressing his keenness to attend the birth centenary celebration which may pave the way for consolidating relations between two countries and exploiting trade and other opportunities.

He shared a photo while leaving Sri Lanka for Dhaka

In the tweet, Mahinda Rajapaksa says “As I head to #Bangladesh to participate in the celebrations of the #GoldenJubilee year of their #Independence, I look forward to engaging with PM Sheikh Hasina and the Government of Bangladesh to strengthen the bilateral relationship to mutually benefit both our nations.”

After being accorded reception at the airport, Lankan PM expressed his excitement again in another tweet.

“Arrived to a warm welcome & guard of honor at the Hazrat Shahjalal Int. Airport in Dhaka, #Bangladesh and was received by PM Sheikh Hasina. I’m honored to be a part of the #GoldenJubilee Independence celebrations & look forward to the next two days of festivities & discussions,” he said.

He also shared the following photo captured at Dhaka airport-