Sri Lanka, Iran mutual friends - Minister
Azuwar MOHIDEEN Colombo Additional District Gr.
Correspondent
Sri Lanka and Iran have maintained mutually beneficial and fruitful
bonds of friendship and cooperation since the establishment of
diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1962 and in recent
times the ties have expanded considerably in political, economic and
cultural fields.
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Minister M H Mohamed |
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M.H. Mohamed declared so representing
the government at the function held at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel in
Colombo on Thursday marking the 31st anniversary of the Islamic
Revolution in Iran.
The Minister in the course of his speech recalled that the President
of Sri Lanka and the President of Iran had exchanged visits in 2007 and
2008 and that both of them had stressed their firm commitment to further
enhance the mutual cooperation in the political, economic, trade,
cultural, educational, scientific and technological fields. The visits
resulted in the signing of agreements and Memorandum of Understandings
between the two countries in the fields of power supply and irrigation
as well and the expansion of the oil refinery facilities in Sri Lanka.
The agreements for operationalising the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development
Project and the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery Project are now in progress
with the assistance of the Islamic Republic of Iran, he said.
Minister Mohamed also pointed out that the reflection of the increase
in contacts between the two countries was due to the specific focus
placed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on expanding ties between Sri
Lanka and Iran since his assumption of office in 2005 and Iran continues
to extend invaluable support for the socio-economic development of Sri
Lanka.
Speaking on the occasion Islamic Republic of Iran Ambassador Mahmoud
Rahimi Gorji, said that the people of Iran were proud of the fact that
they were able to preserve their centuries old traditions and values and
uphold their sense of independence and national identity. The country
has made noteworthy advances over the years, especially with regard to
eradicating illiteracy, economic growth, widening the scope of higher
education and achieving vast advances in the areas of scientific
technology, industry, mine and energy, he said.
The Ambassador added that Iran had also pursued its own independent
foreign policy. Peaceful co existence, promotion of bilateral relations
and extensive regional and international cooperation had been the corner
stone of Iran's foreign policy. While establishing constructive and
interactive relations with most countries, Iran also played an active
role in various international and regional institutions, he said.
Touching upon Iran-Sri Lanka relations the Iranian envoy said that he
felt happy to note that the relations between the two countries had been
close and productive and that the ties had further expanded in recent
times with new avenues of cooperation generated. Referring to the
launching of the Uma Oya Project with Iranian funding amounting to USD
500 million the Ambassador said that the project would stand as a
lasting testimony to Iran-Sri Lanka friendship. There is also the Rural
Electrification project in Sri Lanka costing USD 106 million providing
electricity to about 1,000 villages and a housing project in the
Batticaloa district for which a grant of USD 1.5 million was to be
provided by Iran, the envoy said.
Congratulating President Mahinda Rajapaksa over his receiving a
strong mandate for a second term in office the Iranian Ambassador wished
the President every success in his effort to reconstruct and develop the
country. |
