Dhaka: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena reached Dhaka on Thursday on a three-day state visit to Bangladesh, highlighting the growing ties between the two countries.

A Sri Lankan Airlines flight carrying President Sirisena and his 73-member entourage comprising ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers and business community members landed at Shahjalal Airport at 11:25am.

President Abdul Hamid welcomed Sri Lankan President at the airport amid gun salute and guard of honour.

Upon arrival, the Lankan President will be escorted to his place of residence—Sonargaon Hotel—in a ceremonial motorcade from where he will head for National Martyr’s Memorial, Savar to pay respect to the martyrs of Liberation.

He will attend a ceremony there at 3:40pm on Thursday and will sign visitor’s book there in presence of Housing and Public Works and Liberation War Affairs Ministers.

Later, the Sri Lankan President will visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Dhanmondi on Thursday.

Prime Minister’s family member Saima W Hossain, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Shahriar Alam and CEO of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust Mashura Hossain will receive the Lankan President at the museum at 4:40pm.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold official talks with Sri Lankan President Sirisena at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday morning, according to the programme schedule.

Before the official talks, they will have tete-a-tete at the same venue from 10:00am Friday.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Shahriar Alam on Wednesday said over 10 agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed between the two countries after the official talks.

While briefing media at the Foreign Ministry, he said the areas that will cover agreements and MoUs are agricultural cooperation, higher education, coastal shipping connecting, visa exemption for diplomats and official passport holders, investment cooperation, cooperation between two central banks and cooperation in media sector.

‘We expect that the visit will expand ties between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and create new avenues of cooperation,’ Shahriar Alam said.

The Sri Lankan President will meet President Abdul Hamid on Friday evening. The President will also host State banquet in honour of the Sri Lankan President at the Darbar Hall, Bangabhaban preceded by a cultural programme.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Opposition Leader in Parliament Raushan Ershad and Health Minister Mohammed

Nasim will, among others, meet the Sri Lankan President.

Sirisena will address an economic dialogue on Saturday morning to be attended by Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan business representatives.

He is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 1:00pm on Saturday by a Sri Lankan Airlines flight wrapping up his three-day visit. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali will see him off at the airport.

This is Sirisena’s first official visit to Bangladesh since he was elected Sri Lankan President in 2015. He visited Bangladesh in 2013 and 2014 as Sri Lankan Health Minister.