Sri Lanka and Bangladesh strengthen ties with focus on port connectivity

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have agreed to advance cooperation in maritime connectivity, trade, and green tourism, reaffirming their commitment to deepen bilateral relations during the fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in Colombo on Thursday. The meeting — the first in eight years — was co-chaired by the Foreign Secretaries of both nations and covered a wide spectrum of issues including investment, defense, digital economy, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges.

A major highlight of the discussions was a proposal to establish direct port connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram, aimed at lowering shipping costs, improving logistics efficiency, and enhancing regional trade links. Both sides also committed to fast-tracking pending legal and trade facilitation frameworks to expand economic engagement and boost private sector participation.

In the tourism sector, Sri Lanka proposed collaboration on green and sustainable tourism, aligning with its new national tourism development strategy. Bangladesh welcomed the proposal and suggested joint initiatives such as Tea and Buddhist tourism circuits, along with an early signing of an MoU on tourism cooperation.

The two countries also explored new avenues for mutual investment, with Sri Lanka inviting Bangladeshi investors to participate in infrastructure, logistics, and tourism projects. In return, Bangladesh encouraged Sri Lankan companies to invest in its export processing zones (EPZs), special economic zones (SEZs), and industrial parks — particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals, ICT, renewable energy, and agro-processing.

Colombo expressed deep appreciation for Dhaka’s USD 200 million financial assistance during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. Bangladesh requested Sri Lanka to simplify pharmaceutical product registration, while both nations agreed to reconvene joint trade and shipping committees to revive discussions on long-pending issues.

Further cooperation was discussed in fisheries, agriculture, education, youth affairs, and health. Bangladesh invited Sri Lankan farmers for exchange visits and sought expertise in deep-sea fishing, while Sri Lanka offered additional training opportunities for Bangladeshi nurses. Dhaka also proposed setting up a Bangladesh–Sri Lanka Tech Corridor to foster collaboration in digital innovation.

Reiterating their shared commitment to regional peace and prosperity, both countries pledged to enhance engagement through SAARC, BIMSTEC, and IORA frameworks. Bangladesh additionally sought Sri Lanka’s continued support for the safe and dignified repatriation of Rohingya refugees, underscoring a shared humanitarian approach to regional challenges.