Bangladesh has pledged to support Sri Lanka to host the next Commonwealth leaders meeting in 2013 in Colombo.

The Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given this assurance to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa when the two leaders met on Friday (28).


President Rajapaksa and the Bangladeshi Premier held bilateral talks following the inauguration ceremony of the CHOGM. The two leaders focused attention on enhancing the mutual relationship between the two countries.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs, Prof G. L. Peiris and the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Australia, Admiral (Retd.) Thisara Samarasinghe were also present at the discussions.

The President also met with the Prime Minister of Singapore Li Hine Loom yesterday. The two leaders focused on international trade and investment. They also discussed enhancing economic ties between the two countries. Minister Peiris, Parliamentarian Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and High Commissioner Thisara Samarasinghe participated in the discussions.

Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa were among the guests invited to a dinner reception on Friday night (28) hosted by the leader of the Commonwealth, the Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth Australia.