Sri Lanka is keen to import medicines from Bangladesh under the government-to-government arrangement, country’s Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during their meeting on Wednesday.

Foreign Media reports stated that Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed journalists after the meeting.

He said the Prime Minister appreciated Sri Lanka’s willingness to purchase Bangladeshi medicines and requested the Lankan government to relax its registration requirements to help Bangladesh pharmaceutical companies’ bid.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh offered seven seats to Sri Lankan students to study medicine in the government medical colleges.

“At present, over 500 Sri Lankan students are studying in medicine and other disciplines in private colleges in Bangladesh,” she was quoted as saying.

Sirisena handed over a letter of appreciation from Sri Lankan President Rajapaksha to Hasina for her commendable role in poverty alleviation and establishing peace in the region, Azad said.

Health Minister A F M Ruhal Haq, Health Adviser Prof Sayed Modasser Ali, Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Shaikh M Wahid Uz Zaman, among others, were present at the meeting.

Bangladesh currently exports medicine to nearly 80 countries, earning her about $50 million, Foreign Media reported.