DN PICTORIAL

President’s visit to Bangladesh

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh visited the Bangabandu Sheik Mujibur Rahman memorial museum on an inspection tour yesterday morning. Sheik Mujibur Rahman is considered as the father of the nation by the people of Bangladesh and the house he lived in has been converted into a museum in his memory. It was inside the same house that Sheik Mujibur Rahman was assassinated and President Rajapaksa also viewed the spot at which the Sheik was murdered. Thereafter the President placed a floral tribute at the Sheik Mujibur Rahman statue and signed the visitors book at the museum. Thereafter the President accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and other members of his entourage viewed the artifacts and other objects including photographs of Sheik Mujibur Rahman. Thereafter President Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied by the First Lady and other members of his delegation visited the Merul Badda Buddhist Ashram in Dhaka. There he laid the foundation stone for a new building complex to be put up by the Bangladesh Buddhist Foundation. After participating in religious observances President Rajapaksa offered ‘pirikara’ to the Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan Bhikkhus resident at the Ashram. He also exchanged views with a group of Sri Lankans who had gathered at the Ashram premises.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa with Bhikkhus resident at the Merul Badda Buddhist Ashram in Dhaka

The President before participating in religious observances

Young Sri Lankans waiting to greet President Rajapaksa at the Buddhist Ashram in Dhaka

President Mahinda Rajapaksa meeting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday

External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris signing a MoU with a Bangladesh Minister in the presence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was accompanied by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and the Lankan delegation greeting Sri Lankans at the Merul Badda Buddhist Ashram in Dhaka.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa laying the foundation stone for a new building complex to be constructed at the Bangladesh Buddhist Foundation

Pictures by Sudath Silva and Children of the Proyash Institute performing a dance item Chandana Perera President Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris and Parliamentarian A H M Azwer at the Sheik Mujibur Rahman Museum

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, inmates of the Proyash Handicapped Children’s Institute and guests pose for a group photograph First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa visited the Proyash Handicapped Children’s Institute in Dhaka during her visit to Bangladesh. Here the First Lady talking to a child

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