Iran-Sri Lanka ties blossoms after President's visit

For a well-built long standing bilateral relationship:

Strengthening the bilateral relationships between Iran and Sri Lanka and enabling the two nations to enjoy a long standing cultural amity, President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Iran brought achievements to this island nation.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa's three day visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran concluded on 27th November bringing in more probabilities to accelerate the development progress in our island nation.

Development of Uma Oya Hydro Power Plant and Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery An allocation of US $ 400 million was made for the implementation of Uma Oya Hydro Power Plant and a further US $ 700 billion loan for the improvement of the capacity of the Sapugaskanda Crude Oil refinery.

The two sides stressed their determination to further promote their mutual cooperation in political, economic, trade, cultural, scientific and technological fields.

The official talks were held in an atmosphere and the views of the two sides were identical on different issues," the joint statement issued by the two countries states. Discussions and MoUs

Their discussions centered on the belowmentioned MoUs; expansion of mutual cooperation on shipping, customs formalities, construction of multi-purpose water and energy projects, increasing oil refinery capacities, expansion of cooperation between radio and television networks of the two countries, investments as well as developing ties between the two sides of Chambers of Commerce and Samurdhi development projects.

Both parties are satisfied on the agreements and the Memoranda of Understanding reached between the two countries in the areas of power supply, irrigation, oil refinery in Sri Lanka and further strengthen cooperation in the areas of customs, maritime shipping and promotion of tourism between the two countries.Both sides called for a nuclear free zone in the Middle East.

150 MW power plant

Iran has agreed to build a 150-megawatt electricity power plant in Sri Lanka. This was declared by the Deputy of Iran's Trade Promotion Organization (TPO), Parviz Rezayi.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa arrived in Tehran on Monday for a 3-day official visit.During the last year the total value of the trade transaction between Sri Lanka and Iran is around $ 730 million. Iran is one of the main buyers of Sri Lankan tea and Iran supplies more than 70 percent of the crude oil Sri Lanka needs.

Meeting the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution

President Mahinda Rajapaksa also had an interview with Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khumenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

In the discussions that followed the Khumenei assured Sri Lanka of his support in all her endevours for peace and development.

Iranian President's visit in 2008

He also exalted President Rajapaksa with the assurance that the President of Iran would visit Sri Lanka in 2008 to participate in the inauguration ceremony of one of the two major projects, viz the Uma Oya Hydro Power Project or the Developed Oil Refinery project.

(D.Y.)