, Nov. 15 -- State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Sunday said Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, under their new leadership, are making progress in a pragmatic and forward-looking manner in their respective nation-building efforts.

"It is in our mutual interest that both countries explore all possible avenues of cooperation to fulfil the aspirations of their peoples," he said when Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dharmapala Weerakkody paid a courtesy call on him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both sides expressed optimism about further deepening the long-standing and multifaceted relationship between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The State Minister referred to his interactions with Sri Lankan leaders on the sidelines o...