Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Monday signed five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on agriculture, education, livestock, information and commerce cooperation. The signing of MoUs followed discussions between Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The five MoUs include cooperation between Export Development Board of Sri Lanka and Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh; cooperation between Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka and Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh; and cooperation between Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council and Sri Lankan Council for Agriculture Research Policy. The MoUs also include cooperation between Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Education Ministry; and bilateral cooperation on cultural, educational and scientific exchange programmes. Minister of External Affairs Prof. G. L. Peiris signed the agreements on behalf of Sri Lanka while Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Abdul Latif Biswas, Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury and Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid signed the respective instruments on behalf of Bangladesh government in the presence of the President Rajapaksa and Prine Minister Hasina at the Bangladesh Prime Minister's office. Earlier, the two leaders had a bilateral meeting where bilateral matters and regional and international issues of common interest were discussed. The Presidential website in Sri Lanka reported that the two leaders discussed the issue of terrorism and countering terrorism, as well as food security and cooperation in the shipping sector during the meeting. President Rajapaksa said his country will consider Bangladesh's candidature as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He also stressed strengthening exchange of visits in different fields including by businessmen between the two countries. President Rajapaksa also met with the Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dipu Moni. Moni has expressed hope that the President's visit would further strengthen the bilateral relations between two trusted friends, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan President is on a three-day tour to Bangladesh. This is his first official visit to the country.