DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE SRI LANKA COAST GUARD ATTENDED INTERNATIONAL FLEET REVIEW IN BANGLADESH

The Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Pujitha Vithana made an official visit to Bangladesh on the invitation of the Chief of Naval Staff, Bangladesh Navy to attend the International Fleet Review (IFR 2022) from 06^th to 09^th December 2022 at Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.

The IFR 2022 was organized by the Bangladesh Navy for the first time to celebrate the occasions of the Birth Centenary of Father of the National Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh. Honourable Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh formally inaugurated the International fleet review in Cox's Bazar on 07th December 2022. The delegations from 27 countries and 08 ships from 06 countries participated in this magnificent event.

The theme of the IFR 2022 ‘Friendship beyond the Horizon’ sets the scene as an ideal opportunity to foster and strengthen the existing relationship with transoceanic maritime communities around the globe. Apart from the other proceedings, the IFR 2022 also hosts a ‘Maritime Discourse’ where the senior leadership of participating nations shared their ideas on the theme of the event.

During the visit, the Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard had successful bilateral discussions with the Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury and the MNDF Coast Guard Commandant Colonel Ibrahim Hilmy and discussed the way forward to enhance the bilateral cooperation and the matters of mutual interest.