High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Bangladesh, H.E. Dharmapala Weerakkody, delivered a lecture on “Contemporary Sri Lanka: Its Foreign Policy, Security, Development Strategy, and Bangladesh–Sri Lanka Relations” to the participants of the National Defence Course - 2026 at the National Defence College (NDC), Dhaka, on 09 August 2026.
The lecture was attended by 103 Course Members of the ongoing National Defense Course - 2026, comprising senior officials, including Brigadier General and equivalent officers from the Armed Forces, Joint Secretaries from the Bangladesh Civil Service, and 31 foreign Course Members representing 17 countries. The foreign participants were from China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Mali, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
In his lecture, the High Commissioner provided an overview of contemporary Sri Lanka, with particular emphasis on the country’s foreign policy, national security priorities, development strategy, and regional and international engagement. He also highlighted the longstanding and multifaceted relations between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, including cooperation in the political, economic, defence, tourism and people-to-people spheres.
The lecture was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session, during which the High Commissioner responded to a wide range of questions raised by the course participants. The discussion covered matters of mutual interest, including the ongoing cooperation between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, bilateral economic relations, defence cooperation, tourism, people-to-people connectivity, regional cooperation, geopolitical developments and emerging regional security challenges.
Prior to the lecture, the High Commissioner had a cordial meeting with Air Vice Marshal Md Shafiqul Islam, BUP, ndc, fawc, psc, Senior Directing Staff (Air) of the National Defence College.
The National Defence College (NDC) is a premier national institution in Bangladesh and is widely recognised as a centre of excellence for training and research in leadership, defence, security, and national development. Established in January 1998, the College has since been conducting the National Defence Course (NDC), a 47-week programme designed for senior military officers, civil servants, and international participants. The course aims to enhance strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and professional knowledge, while equipping participants with the skills and perspectives required to address complex national, regional, and global challenges.
The High Commissioner’s engagement with the National Defence College provided a valuable platform for sharing perspectives on Sri Lanka’s contemporary national priorities, foreign policy, security, and regional outlook, while further strengthening the longstanding bonds of friendship, mutual understanding, and cooperation between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
