DHAKA, March 19, 2021 (BSS) – Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa
today paid rich tributes to the memory of martyrs’ freedom fighters at
National Memorial in Savar on the outskirts of the capital.
The Sri Lankan premier paid homage by placing a wreath at the Memorial.
Earlier, Rajapaksa reached the National Memorial at about 11:00 am.
On his arrival there, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque,
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman and
State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed, among others,
welcomed him.
A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air
Force gave him a guard of honour while the bugles played the last post.
Rajapaksa also signed the visitor’s book at the Memorial.
“This indeed is a moving experience to pay my respects at the National
Martyrs Memorial to the memory of those who sacrificed their valued lives
during the Bangladesh War of Independence. All of those who cherished
independence sacrificed their today for a tomorrow to all Bengali people,
which is a powerful testament to Bangabandhu’s dream for a free, independent
and proud Bangladesh,” he wrote.
Rajapaksa also planted a sapling of night-flowering jasmine or Parijat on
the memorial premises.
Prior to this, the Sri Lankan prime minister arrived here this morning on
a two-day official visit to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of
country’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
A special flight of the Sri Lankan Airlines carrying Rajapaksa and his
entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport (HISA)
at 9:45am.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Sri Lankan counterpart at the
airport.
A guard of honor was given to the Sri Lankan premier by a smartly turned
out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force there.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan,
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar
Alam, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and State Minister
for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak, among
others, were present at the airport.