(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, M.U.M. Ali Sabry undertook an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, from 04 to 07 August 2023, on an invitation extended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
During the visit, Minister Ali Sabry paid a courtesy call on the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Ebrahim Raisi and had bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister Amir- Abdollahian and Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Mohammad-Reza Farzin.
Commending the excellent bilateral relations, at the meeting with President Raisi, Foreign Minister Ali Sabry expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the assistance extended to Sri Lanka for the development projects and outlined the steps being taken by the Government of Sri Lanka on the IMF-led debt restructuring process. President Raisi offered to share the capabilities with friendly countries like Sri Lanka, when referring to the progress that the Islamic Republic of Iran made in various fields, especially in science and technology.
Ministers Ali Sabry and Dr. Amir-Abdollahian had extensive discussions on bilateral cooperation and a host of other mutually important regional and global challenges. The Ministers emphasized the need to further strengthen and broaden the close and cordial bilateral relations, including on the economic partnership programmes and their desire to enter into agreements, in order facilitate the process. Minister Ali Sabry thanked Minister Dr. Amir Abdollahian for the support to Sri Lanka bilaterally and in the international fora and stated that Sri Lanka is “everyone’s friend and nobody’s enemy” in regards to the conduct of its foreign policy.
Reference was also made to Sri Lanka’s assumption of the presidency of the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Ministerial meeting of the grouping in October this year.
During this visit, Minister Ali Sabry also had discussions with Central Bank Governor Dr. Mohammad Reza Farzin on furthering economic cooperation between the two countries and ways and means in this regard. The Minister expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for consenting to the IMF-led debt restructuring process.
He appreciated the assistance for the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Project as well as for the Rural Electrification Project. Minister Ali Sabry informed the Governor on the commencement of the settlement process for purchase of oil by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and the supply of Ceylon Tea.
The Sri Lanka delegation headed by Minister Ali Sabry included Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Islamic Republic of Iran Wishvanath Aponso, Director, the Department of External Resources Samantha Bandara and Deputy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Rizvi.
