Diplomatic Correspondent 

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday paid rich tributes to the memory of martyrs’ freedom fighters at National Memorial in Savar on the outskirts of the capital.

The Sri Lankan premier paid homage by placing a wreath at the Memorial.

Earlier, Rajapaksa reached the National Memorial at about 11:00 am. 

On his arrival there, Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Md Enamur Rahman and State Minister for Housing and Public Works Sharif Ahmed, among others, welcomed him.

A smartly turned-out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force gave him a guard of honour while the bugles played the last post.

Rajapaksa also signed the visitor’s book at the Memorial.

“This indeed is a moving experience to pay my respects at the National Martyrs Memorial to the memory of those who sacrificed their valued lives during the Bangladesh War of Independence. All of those who cherished independence sacrificed their today for a tomorrow to all Bengali people, which is a powerful testament to Bangabandhu’s dream for a free, independent and proud Bangladesh,” he wrote.

Rajapaksa also planted a sapling of night-flowering jasmine or Parijat on the memorial premises.

Prior to this, the Sri Lankan prime minister arrived here this morning on a two-day official visit to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of country’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A special flight of the Sri Lankan Airlines carrying Rajapaksa and his entourage members landed at Hazrat Shahjalal (R) International Airport (HISA) at 9:45am.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received her Sri Lankan counterpart at the airport.

A guard of honor was given to the Sri Lankan premier by a smartly turned out contingent drawn from Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force there.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak, among others, were present at the airport.