Secretary General of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Tenzin Lekphell paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Prof. G. L Peiris on December 9, 2021 and briefed on his first official visit to Sri Lanka, a statement from the Foreign Ministry said. Sri Lanka is the Chair of BIMSTEC (since 2018), and the Minister assured Sri Lanka’s commitment to furthering the goals of the regional organization.