SL-B'desh discuss collaboration in shipping sector

Foreign Minister Prof G.L. Peiris held discussions with Bangladesh's State Minister of Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, as a follow up to his meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen.

Shipping is a key area for collaboration between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, they agreed.

Enhanced cooperation between Chittagong and Sri Lankan ports will be a win-win situation for both countries, said the two ministers.

This is owing to the fact that both time and financial resources are saved if a transit hub in Sri Lanka is utilised for access into the Gulf and the Mediterranean.

The Bangladesh Minister indicated the importance being currently attached by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the subject of shipping in their country.

The ministers decided that the next step would be the early convening of a joint working group since the last meeting was in Dhaka in 2014.

It was proposed that a meeting be held in Colombo in the early months of 2022.

Minister Peiris said that he would discuss the matter with his colleague, the Minister of Ports and Shipping in Sri Lanka and facilitate arrangements for the group's  early convening.

Issues relating to feeder services and a comprehensive coastal shipping agreement would be among the subjects on the agenda at the meeting in Colombo.