DHAKA: Bangladesh has donated essential medical supplies to Sri Lanka as a goodwill gesture, as the island nation faces a severe economic crisis.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque handed over a few cartons of pharmaceuticals to Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sudharshan D.S. Seneviratne, at a token handover ceremony held at the State Guest House Padma here on Thursday, as per reports.

At a time when the two nations are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations, Momen hailed the drug supply as a show of solidarity and goodwill between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. "Bangladesh never hesitates to provide aid to any nation in difficulty, in especially to its neighbours, for securing shared peace and development in the South Asian area," he continued, citing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership. Seneviratne, for one, emphasised that Sri Lanka values its cordial relationship with Bangladesh and is committed to deepening it.  He said that the medical supplies indicated that bilateral relations are improving.

The Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries and Essential Drugs Company Limited, the country's only state-owned pharmaceuticals company, have each given Sri Lanka medications worth 100 million takas as gifts, according to the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka.

The medicinal supplies are likely to arrive in Sri Lanka in a few days, according to the statement. Bangladesh had already offered Sri Lanka with $200 million in help through currency swaps.

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