The use of Sri Lanka's port to send commercial products to Western countries is increasing. Currently, about 20 percent of the goods sent from the Bangladesh to the western world is transported through Sri Lanka Ports. Considering the fact, Bangladesh-Sri Lanka agreed on a coastal shipping agreement. It is expected that this agreement will be signed in the year. Bangladesh Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mr Riaz Hamidullah confirmed the information to the Bengali Tribune.



Mr Hamidullah further said, "Colombo's aim is to be the center of logistics and transhipment of the Indian Ocean (Hub). Work is going on for this reason.” He said, "Bangladeshi businessmen are using Singapore Port as well as using Sri Lanka's port to send products from Bangladesh to Europe or America."
When asked about the reasons for the increased use of the port, he said, "Sri Lanka's port is being used because of the time and money to be saved."
The matter was discussed during the visit of Maithripala Sirisena (M. Sirisena), the Sri Lankan President last month, and it was decided to conclude this agreement quickly.
Container handling capacity is being increased to the capacity of 35 million TEUs in the port of Colombo, Hambantota deep-sea port, Galle Port and the port of Trincomalee. Meanwhile, the capacity of the Colombo Port currently stands at 14 million TEUs. In contrast, the capacity of Chittagong Port of Bangladesh is 2.5 million TEUs.
Asked about this, FBCCI president Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin said, "The first priority of the traders is to deliver the goods in a timely manner and the traders do this work through the freight forwarders."