President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived at Hazrat Shahjala International Airport in Dhaka a short while ago.

President Rajapaksa is on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman welcomed the President and First Lady Madam Shiranthi Rajapaksa at the Airport.

President Rajapaksa was accorded a 21 gun salute and a Guard of Honour before being taken to the Hotel Pan Pacific Sonargaon, in the central Dhaka.

According to Bangladesh media elaborate arrangements have been made by the Bangladeshi government to receive President Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni will call on the visiting Sri Lankan President and the official talks between the two countries are expected to take place at the International Conference Center at the Prime Minister’s office after President Rajapaksa calls on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office at Tejgaon, Dhaka.

President Rajapaksa will join a state banquet and dinner to be hosted by the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the Bangladesh’s apex trade body the Federation of Commerce and Industry will host a luncheon in honour of the visiting Sri Lanka President and first lady. Several bilateral trade and cultural agreements are to be signed between the two countries during the visit of President Rajapaksa.