Breaking away from the normal tradition and norms, Bangladesh now has 12 more ambassadors in Sri Lanka who will work to connect peoples of the two countries by traditional bonds.
Dhaka envoy Riaz Hamidullah at the Independence Day reception in Colombo on Mar 26 said, “I now regard the 12 distinguished Sri Lankan Artists as our ambassadors in Sri Lanka! With them, we are trying to paint a more contemporary, deeper canvass of our friendship beyond borders.”
They are S H Sarath, Manoranjan Herath, Nayanada Wijekulathilake, Raja Segar, Channa Ekanayake, Sudath Abeysekara, Achala Gunawardhana, Gayan Prageeth, Chathuranga Biyagama, J C Rathnayake, Chammika Jayawardena, Chathurika Jayani.
These artists along with seven Bangladeshi painters last week took part in the ‘Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Art Camp’ at Navin’s Light of Asia Foundation and their works were displayed at the reception.
“The 19 artists quietly unleashed their creative imagination on canvas,” said High Commissioner Hamiduallh at the reception.
The reception was a meeting ground of both the leaders from the government and the opposition as it was attended by former Sri Lanka President and present Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapakse, seven cabinet ministers, Chief Election Commissioner, founder of Sarvodaya AT Ariyaratne, ambassadors of India, China, European Union, United Kingdom, and Sri Lankan business leaders.
Riaz said, “Rajapakse and others showed special interest in the paintings and saw them at the hall.”
The high commission in Colombo also published special two-page supplement in English and Sinhala languages.
“Rajapakse told me that he did not recall such type of supplement published by any foreign mission in Sinhala language,” High Commissioner Hamidullah said.
It is time to disprove that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are separated by the Bay of Bengal, rather, our two countries are connected by a common sea – Bay of Bengal, our two peoples connected by traditional bonds, Riaz said