The new Bangladesh High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr. Mahbubuzzaman, on Monday presented his credentials to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. President Rajapaksa while welcoming the new High Commissioner expressed the hope that existing ties between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would be further consolidated. The High Commissioner in response assured of his constant endeavour to further consolidate the warm and friendly relations existing between the two countries.

During the discussions that followed the presentation of credentials, the High Commissioner conveyed the warm greetings of the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh to President Rajapaksa. He also conveyed an invitation to President Rajapaksa from the Government of Bangladesh to visit Bangladesh. While accepting the invitation, the President said that the dates could be worked out through diplomatic channels.

The High Commissioner praised the President for his able guidance as current Chairperson of SAARC. While thanking the High Commissioner for his sentiment, the President said that Sri Lanka will always work closely with her South Asian neighbours towards promoting both bilateral and regional cooperation.

Earlier, the High Commissioner was escorted by a smartly turned out contingent of Presidential Guards. On arrival at the President’s Office, he was received by the Chief of Protocol and Chief of Staff of the Presidential Secretariat. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present at the credentials ceremony.

High Commissioner Mahbubuzzaman, a career diplomat prior to being appointed High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, was Director General of the South Asia Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka. He is married to Shahreen Murshed Zaman.