Sri Lanka-Bangladesh shipping link on cards
STAFF REPORTER
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to start operation of coastal shipping service between the two countries soon. Initially the operation of cargo ships will be started and later the cruise vessels.
To start the operation of coastal shipping service the authorities concerned will sign an agreement soon. Immediate after the signing of the agreement, the
authorities will start operation of the water vessels.
A meeting between two high level delegations of the two countries was held yesterday at the secretariat in Dhaka with Bangladeshs Shipping Secretary Ashok Madhab Roy, who led the Bangladeshi delegation, in the chair. Sri Lankan Shipping Secretary L P Jayampathy led the delegation at the meeting.
After the meeting between the two parties, Shipping Secretary Ashok Madhab Roy said the meeting has discussed about the terms of references of the agreement. It would be finalised soon. The final agreement will be signed between two countries within a short time.
He said that both the sides have already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the secretary-level meeting after finalising the draft agreement.
When the agreement will be signed and implemented, Bangladesh would be able to use two ports - Colombo port and Hambantotaof Sri Lanka with more ease. At the same time, the Sri Lankan water vessels will also be able to use Bangladeshi ports easily, he added.
Ashok also said the trade and transportation between the two countries will be also increased following the agreement.
Earlier, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan opened the meeting at his Ministry conference room officially. After the meeting, the Sri Lankan delegation also met the Minister at his office.
The other members of the visiting Sri Lankan delegation aredirector general of merchant shipping Ajith Senaviratne, port authority chairman Dammika Ranatunga, shilon shipping corporation chairman Shashi Dhanatunge, Sri Lankan charge-d affairs in Bangladesh Sesath Thambugala and port authority chief manager Upul Jayatissa.
And, the other members of Bangladesh side wereshipping ministry additional secretary Rafiqul Islam, commerce ministry joint secretary Munir Chowdhury, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation director general Commodore M Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan, shipping ministry joint secretary Delwar Haider, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Riaz M Hamidullah, foreign ministry director general (south Asia) Monwar Hossain, Chittagong Port Authority Member (admin and planning) Zafar Alam, also attended the meeting.
