Visiting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are now in a bilateral meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Prior to sitting in the bilateral talks, President Sirisena and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a tete-a-tete for a while from 10:15am.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina received the Sri Lankan President on his arrival at the PMO on Friday morning.

Fourteen instruments, including one to facilitate the plying of feeder vessels between the two countries, are likely to be signed after the official talks.

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

The Sri Lankan president will meet President Abdul Hamid in the evening. Abdul Hamid will also host State banquet in honor of the Sri Lankan president at the Darbar Hall in 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.

Sirisena arrived Dhaka on Thursday morning 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 Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:25am.

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

Upon arrival, the Lankan President was escorted to his place of residence—Sonargaon Hotel—in a ceremonial motorcade.

Later, the Sri Lankan president paid respect to the Liberation War martyrs at the National Martyr’s Memorial in Savar on Thursday afternoon.

President Sirisena attended a ceremony and signed the visitor’s book and planted a sapling there after placing wreaths.

He also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Dhanmondi in Dhaka. Prime Minister’s family member Saima W Hossain, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and CEO of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust Mashura Hossain received the Lankan President at the museum.

President Sirisena placed wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu and stood in solemn silence there for some time as a mark of respect to the founder of Bangladesh and visited the museum and signed the visitor’s book there.