Country Lecture on " The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" on 03 October 2013

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised an Institute's Country Lecture Series titled "The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" on 29 October 2013 at the BIISS Auditorium.

The lecture was delivered by H. E. Mr W. A. Sarath K. Weragoda, High Commissioner of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh, as the Guest Speaker. The programme brought together senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, policymakers, academics, researchers, military officials, representatives of think tanks, development partner organisations, media professionals, and students to discuss Sri Lanka's political, economic, and strategic developments, as well as the growing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

In his lecture, High Commissioner Sarath K. Weragoda provided an overview of Sri Lanka's historical evolution, political system, economic development, and foreign policy priorities. He highlighted the country's strategic location in the Indian Ocean and its importance as a maritime nation, emphasising Sri Lanka's commitment to regional peace, stability, economic cooperation, and sustainable development.

The Guest Speaker discussed the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, noting that the two countries enjoy cordial relations based on shared historical ties, mutual respect, and cooperation within regional and multilateral forums. He emphasised the potential for expanding collaboration in trade and investment, tourism, shipping, education, cultural exchanges, agriculture, fisheries, and people-to-people connectivity.

The lecture also explored opportunities for strengthening regional cooperation through organisations such as SAARC and other multilateral platforms. The speaker underlined the importance of enhancing connectivity, promoting economic integration, encouraging private-sector engagement, and fostering academic and cultural exchanges to further deepen bilateral relations and contribute to regional prosperity.

Participants actively engaged in the interactive discussion session, sharing valuable questions, comments, suggestions, and observations on Sri Lanka's development experience, regional security, maritime cooperation, and the future prospects of Bangladesh–Sri Lanka relations. The exchange of views enriched the discussion and highlighted new avenues for closer cooperation between the two friendly countries.

The programme concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared commitment of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to strengthening their longstanding partnership through enhanced diplomatic engagement, increased economic cooperation, and closer collaboration in regional and international forums. The event also reinforced BIISS's role in promoting informed dialogue on international affairs through its Country Lecture Series.