Iran's President Arrives In Sri Lanka For Official Visit

COLOMBO (News 1st); The President of Iran Dr. Ebrahim Raisi arrived at the Mattala International Airport on an official visit on Wednesday (24) morning.

He is to inaugurate the hydropower plant within the Uma Oya Multipurpose Project.

Following this event, President Raisi will proceed to Colombo, where an official reception awaits him in the afternoon.

During this event, five bilateral agreements will be signed, and the Presidents of both nations will grace this occasion with their presence.

Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, currently serving as the President of Iran since 2021, previously held the esteemed position of Chief Justice of Iran from 2019 to 2021.

Dr. Raisi served as the Attorney General of Iran during the years 2014 to 2016.

Before leaving for Sri Lanka, Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi stated that the development of economic and trade relations with Sri Lanka as one of the goals of his visit to this country and, referring to the significant growth of cooperation between the two countries in the technical and engineering fields, he expressed hope that this trip will be a turning point in improving the level of relations between Iran and Sri Lanka.

The highlight of his Sri Lankan visit will be the participation in the opening ceremony and official inauguration of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Project, alongside the Sri Lankan President.

The Uma Oya Multipurpose Project, featuring two dams and a 120-megawatt power plant constructed by Iranian contractors, is hailed as one of Sri Lanka's largest civil engineering endeavors, valued at approximately $500 million.

The purpose of the project is to improve irrigation of 5000 acres of agricultural land, transferring 145 million cubic meters of water and generating 290 GW/h of power in a year.

With financing provided by the Sri Lankan government, over 400 Iranian engineers have played a pivotal role in its implementation, contributing from consultation and design to execution.

Back in August 2023, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry visited Iran and met with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in Tehran During a joint press conference, the top Iranian diplomat called the visit “a turning point in Iran-Sri Lanka ties.”

Dr. Raisi's visit to the country is the first since the visit of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran in April, 2008 at the invitation of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the then President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.