Bangladesh High Commission in Colombo observed the 50th Armed Forces Day of Bangladesh with befitting festivity and grandeur on 21st November 2021. Defence Adviser Commodore Shafiul Bari hosted a reception followed by dinner in a local hotel. Defence Secretary of Sri Lanka General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne along with his spouse graced the occasion as the Chief guest. Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General L H S C Silva, Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral D N S Ulugetenne and Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal S K Pathirana were also in attendance with their spouses. Commodore Bari delivered the welcome remarks. The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Tareq Md. Ariful Islam also addressed the gathering. They recalled the significance of the Day and highlighted the contribution of Armed Forces to nation building as well as to maintenance of global peace and security through participation in UN peace keeping operations.
The Chief Guest Defence Secretary Kamal Gunarantne in his speech recalled the glorious history of Bangladesh Armed Forces and their contribution to the liberation war of Bangladesh and highlighted the existing excellent bilateral cooperation between the two countries particularly between the two-Armed Forces. He praised the remarkable socio-economic achievement of Bangladesh.
A good number of head Ambassadors/High Commissioners, Heads of International Organizations and Defence Adviser/Attaché of diplomatic missions Colombo and high-ranking officers of the Tri-Forces of Sri Lanka joined the event with their spouses. It was the first such program organized by any diplomatic Mission in Colombo in the past two years.
