Colombo : After a lapse of 12 years, the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh Parliamentary Friendship Association has been revived and a new committee has been elected with the members of the current parliaments, the Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo said.
The new committee was elected at a meeting chaired by the Lankan Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya on Thursday, reports the Colombo Page.
Bangladesh High Commissioner Tarik Ahsan was also present during the meeting.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen was elected as President of the seven member bureau of office-bearers and a 15-member executive committee.
Abdullah Mahrooff, A. Aravindh Kumar and J. C. Alawathuwala were elected as vice presidents, with Bimal Ratnayake as secretary, Hector Appuhamy as Assistant Secretary and State Minister of Urban Planning and Water Supply of Sri Lanka Sudarshini Fernandopulle as Treasurer.
Speaker Jayasuriya hoped the Association would “complement the efforts of governments in enhancing bilateral relations”, adding, the formation of the Association was inspired by the “deep-rooted friendly” relations between the two countries.
According to the Bangladesh mission, the Association was last formed in 2001 and lasted till Lankan 2004 general elections. (ANI)