Speech by Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Hon'ble Advisor for Foreign Affairs
at the lunch hosted in honor of H.E. Rohitha Bogollogama
Hon'ble Foreign Minister
Government of Sri Lanka External Affairs
at the State Guest House, Padma Dhaka, 29 June 2008

Your Excellency
Mr. Rohitha Bogollogama,
Foreign Minister Sri Lanka
Madam Bogollogama
Hon'ble Advisors
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

We are delighted to have you with us this afternoon. On behalf of the Government of Bangladesh and on my own behalf, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to your Excellency and the members of the entourage. Though brief, we would very much like that your stay is pleasant and comfortable.

I would like to thank you for personally carrying the invitation from President Mahinda Rajapaksha to the Hon'ble Chief Adviser, and for myself, for the forthcoming SAARC Summit in Colombo. Bangladesh, as the initiator of SAARC, is deeply committed to harnessing the potentials and strengths of our countries in South Asia. The 15th gathering of SAARC leaders in Colombo this August would add to the momentum and dynamism that was generated at the 13th Summit in Dhaka.

Your visit has offered us with another opportunity to share broad perceptions on bilateral, regional and global issues. I am happy to say that the interaction we had was most constructive and useful.

Excellency,

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka enjoy excellent relations. Our shared heritage and historical linkage have created a strong bondage between the peoples of our countries. It is in our mutual interest and also in the interest of regional prosperity, that there should be close cooperation and interaction among us. We in Bangladesh seek to achieve this objective bilaterally and also through regional cooperation under SAARC and BIMSTEC.

Excellency,

This decade has witnessed tumultuous changes. It has also brought further the forces of globalization in the forefront. The rapid integration of markets on a global scale has brought new set of opportunities as well as challenges. The developing countries due to their disadvantageous position in terms of economy and size are being marginalized vis-à-vis the developed countries. Promises were made at the great UN conferences but most of them are yet to be realized or remain un-fulfilled.

Given this bleak scenario, how does South Asia fit in the total picture and what can we do to gain maximum advantage? The answer is simple; we need to work in unison based on a common minimum agenda. The South Asian Countries need a platform to articulate their views and express their opinion on important global and multilateral issues. SAARC provides such an avenue of cooperation.

The Colombo Meeting comes at a significant time. We are focused on expanding connectivity on SAARC. The SAARC process obviously enjoys a tremendous popularity among our citizenry. The event in Sri Lanka will hopefully provide a major impetus to further strengthening our international cooperation in connectivity, trade, food security, climate change, energy and similar topical issues.

Excellency,

As SAARC partners committed to trade integration through SAFTA, I believe, bilateral trade holds great promise and potential for us. We are endowed with certain advantages that could boost two-way trade end also encourage joint venture investments. Sri Lankan entrepreneurs businessmen should take advantage of the excellent investment opportunities offered by Bangladesh.

Excellency,

We must look forward with optimism and hope. The future of South Asia is our common future. As two SAARC members, it is in our interest to make collective endeavours for ensuring economic progress for the region. We look forward to a successful Summit in Colombo.

I am sure that you and the members of your delegation will carry back happy memories of this short visit. Let this sojourn be a harbinger of even deeper and fraternal relationship that we can all cherish and share.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

May I now invite you
to join me in praying for the health and happiness of
His Excellency Mr. Rohitha Bogollogama
to the continued peace and prosperity of the friendly people of Sri Lanka and to the growing friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

I thank you all.