Bangladesh, Sri Lanka discuss expediting trade, investment negotiations

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Sunday discussed expediting ongoing negotiations to promote bilateral trade and investment as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The discussion took place when Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dharmapala Weerakkody paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, the ministry said in a press release.

During the meeting, they reviewed ongoing bilateral cooperation, including initiatives to expand trade and investment through faster progress in negotiations.

Kobir said Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, under their new leaderships, were pursuing nation-building in a pragmatic and forward-looking manner.

He underscored the mutual interest in exploring all possible avenues of cooperation to fulfil the aspirations of the peoples of both countries.

The state minister also recalled his interactions with Sri Lankan leaders on the sidelines of multilateral events.

He stressed the need to implement the decisions of the fourth Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Foreign Office Consultation held in Colombo in November 2025. The next consultation will take place in Dhaka.

Both sides expressed optimism about further deepening the longstanding and multifaceted relations between the two countries.