Prime Minister Hasina Wednesday offered Sri Lanka to invest in any of the 22 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to be set up in Bangladesh, reports BSS. The Prime Minister said this when newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner Yasoja Gunasekera made a courtesy call on her at the Prime Minister’s Office in the city. Sheikh Hasina said the government is ready to provide land property for the economic zones and local and Sri Lankan entrepreneurs, who have already invested in many areas in Bangladesh. They can build up infrastructure under joint venture on their own, she added. Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the Sri Lankan envoy highly appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and termed her as a pride of the SAARC family. She also congratulated the Premier on her receiving two UN prestigious awards. As Bangladesh is located in the calamity prone-areas, the Premier said, the government has adopted appropriate programmes to adapt to the climate change impacts. In the meeting, Sheikh Hasina pointed out the possibility of a maritime route connecting Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives to promote tourism and commercial shipping. The envoy said Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have immense scope for cooperation in the areas of power, banking, shipping and pharmaceuticals. Sri Lanka is keen to import more pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh, she added. Among others, PMO Secretary Suraiya Begum was present on the occasion.
