Bangladesh Army Chief Meets President, PM &;amp; Secretary Defence

Bangladesh Army’s Chief of Army Staff, General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen ndc psc, who arrived in Sri Lanka on a five-day goodwill visit on Wednesday (23) called on the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya at the Army Headquarters Thursday (24) morning.

General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen, Chief of Army Staff, Bangladesh Army is accompanied by his spouse, Mrs Begum Syeda Sharifa Mubeen and three other senior officers in the Bangladesh Army. The invitation to this effect had been extended by his Sri Lankan counterpart. 

The visiting Bangladesh Army Chief on arrival at the Army Headquarters was warmly received by Brigadier T. J. Nanayakkara, Centre Commandant Sri Lanka Engineers Regiment and conducted to inspect the Guard Turn Out at the entrance to the premises, in accordance with military traditions.

Afterwards, the visiting Bangladesh Army Chief was conducted to the saluting dais to receive the salute in the Guard of Honour, provided by troops of the Sri Lanka Engineers Regiment.
    
Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army, awaiting the visiting Chief Guest’s arrival at the main porch, received him cordially and conducted him to his office after introducing General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen to his Principal Staff Officers at Army Headquarters.

Cordial discussions that ensued afterwards between both Army Chiefs at Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya’s office centered largely on military matters of mutual and regional interest and possibilities for sharing experience and strategies in the successful Wanni Humanitarian Operations against separatist terrorists.

The meeting also explored avenues of receiving more and more training opportunities for Sri Lankan officers in Bangladesh, in addition to ongoing training programmes.

Lieutenant General Jayasuriya and General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen during discussions also focused on reviving the old practice of exchanging sport programmes between the two organizations as it occurred in the past, since such approaches would further help broaden bilateral understanding and goodwill among officers.

Towards the end of the interaction, Lieutenant General Jayasuriya presented a special memento to the visiting General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen, after he symbolically placed his signature on the VIP book at the Commander’s office. General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen reciprocated and offered his sincere thanks to the Sri Lankan counterpart before he left the Army Headquarters to attend the remainder of the day’s itinerary. 

The next stop for the visiting Bangladesh Army Chief was the Ministry of Defence. Secretary Defence Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa warmly received the visiting Bangladesh's Chief of Army Staff. A brief discussion on matters of international importance and strategic relevance between Mr Rajapaksa and General Mohammed Abdul Mubeen followed during their formal interaction at the office of the Secretary Defence where exchange of mementos took place. The visiting Army Chief gave an enthusiastic hearing to the Secretary Defence as he narrated the story to recent victory against terrorism.

Around noon, the visiting Army Chief paid a courtesy call on HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees. The visiting Army Chief exchanged views on matters of bilateral interest with the Head of State in Sri Lanka during the meet. Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya accompanied his Bangladesh counterpart to the meeting.   

Later on, the visiting Army Chief arrived at Visumpaya to meet Hon Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne where both of them had a brief exchange of views on matters of bilateral concern.

During the latter part of the day, the visiting Pakistani Chief is scheduled to meet Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force and Vice Admiral D. W. A. S. Dissanayake, Commander of the Navy where they exchanged views on security matters of regional and other interest.

Meanwhile, the Seva Vanitha Army Branch (SVAB) at Army Headquarters had the rare honour of welcoming the visiting Bangladesh Army Chief’s spouse, Mrs Begum Syeda Sharifa Mubeen during a series of receptions, hosted at SVAB Headquarters Thursday (24). Mrs Manjulika Jayasuriya, President SVAB welcomed the delegates and one of the SVAB members presented a brief account of the SVAB role.