Iranian President here next year

Chaminda Perera and Rasika Somaratne

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad will be in Sri Lanka next year to participate in the foundation laying of either the Sapugaskanda oil refinery expansion project or the Uma Oya project funded by the Iranian Government, Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told a press conference at the Information Department yesterday.

He said the Iranian President has agreed to be in Sri Lanka for one of these ceremonies.

Iran has agreed to fund seven major projects in Sri Lanka following discussions between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Iranian counterpart in Tehran, the Minister said.

Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has also pledged to President Rajapaksa that he would launch a programme to purchase more Sri Lankan tea in the future, he said.