Bangladesh will stand by Sri Lanka on the issue of human rights, reported the Sri Lankan president's office on Tuesday.
Following a visit to Sri Lanka this week by the Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary, Shahidul Haque, he was quoted by Rajapaksa's office as saying to the president:
"We stand by our Sri Lankan brothers on the issue of human rights. It's an internal matter, and we are confident of the leadership. We don't want to see this brought up [in international fora] at any level,"
Bangladesh is the Chair of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) at present.
Bangladeshi delegation included the High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Colombo Mohammad Sufiur Raaman, a joint secretary of Bangladesh’s Shipping Ministry Nasir Arif Mahmud and Director (South Asia) of the Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Ministry Tareq Md. Ariful Islam.
Ports and Highways Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunatilake Amunugama were also present.