Dhaka, 2 November 2023:

In a spirit of friendship and good neighborly relations as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has decided to send a significant quantity of medical supplies worth of Bangladesh Taka10 crores to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture. Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, M.P. handed over a few boxes of medicine as a token to Mrs.  Ruwanthi Delpitiya, the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka at an event held today in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event was also attended by Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Ambassador  Masud Bin Momen, and also high officials  of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Essential Drugs Company Limited (EDCL) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Foreign Minister, Dr. Momen, in his short remarks, termed the offer of medicine, as the expression of solidarity and friendship between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh always tries to assist any nation in difficulties, in particular in neighbour. He stated that the cornerstone of our gesture is genuine goodwill and friendship. Dr. Momen assured that Bangladesh stands ready to support Sri Lanka in all possible ways. He expressed satisfaction on the way Sri Lanka has recovered from the economic crisis last year.

The Acting High Commissioner expressed her sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Government of Bangladesh for the support of supplying much needed medicine for the people of Sri Lanka. She mentioned that the medical assistance to Sri Lankan people is a testimony of the strong and long standing friendship between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. She appreciated that Bangladesh donated medical supplies to Sri Lanka last year at a time when Sri Lanka was in the midst of an economic downturn which was a great help for the people of Sri Lanka.

The supply of much needed medicine would certainly manifest the capability of the pharmaceuticals industries in terms of its ability in producing high quality medicine. The medicines also demonstrate Bangladesh’s foreign policy resolve of maintaining friendly and cooperative relations with her neighbors.

Earlier, Bangladesh supported Sri Lanka by providing medicine worth nearly Taka 20 crores in May 2022. Bangladesh also donated medicine and other relief materials to Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Turkey and Palestine in the recent months.