Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, expressed Iran’s keen interest in bolstering relationships with Sri Lanka and other Asian nations during his visit to the island nation.
Raisi made these remarks at the inauguration ceremony of a significant multi-purpose project undertaken by Iranian contractors in Sri Lanka.
The project, known as the Uma Oya Multipurpose project, valued at $514 million, aims to generate 290 GWh of electricity annually and improve irrigation for agricultural purposes.
Despite facing challenges such as international sanctions against Iran, technical obstacles, and the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction of the project was successfully overseen entirely by Iran’s FARAB engineering group.
Initially, Iran contributed $50 million to the project, but funding was halted in 2013 due to international sanctions. Nevertheless, the Sri Lankan government decided to continue the project using its own funds, with the same Iranian contractor.
The project consists of two dams, a 28-kilometer water transmission tunnel, and a 120-MW underground power plant, showcasing Iran’s technical and engineering expertise in dam construction, water transfer, and electricity production.
During the ceremony, Raisi emphasized Iran’s readiness to expand bilateral relations not only with Asian countries but also with neighboring and sovereign states.
“We are fully prepared to further enhance bilateral relations with all Asian countries, our neighboring nations, and sovereign and independent states,” Raisi stated.
He highlighted Sri Lanka’s status as a sovereign and independent nation with policies aligned with Iran, which creates opportunities for meaningful cooperation between the two countries.
Raisi’s visit to Sri Lanka marked the first by an Iranian president in 16 years.
During the visit, five agreements, or Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), were slated to be signed between Iran and Sri Lanka.
President Raisi’s visit signifies the commitment of both nations to deepen ties and expand cooperation across various sectors, including the economy, tourism, science, and technology.
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