President Ranil Wickremesinghe extended a warm welcome to Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and his delegation upon their arrival at the Presidential Secretariat thsi evening. The visit was marked by a Guard of Honour, reflecting the significance of the occasion.
Following the inauguration of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP), President Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude to Iran for their indispensable technical support. He underscored the pivotal role Iran played in enabling Sri Lanka to divert the Uma Oya tributaries into Kirindi Oya, addressing critical water management challenges.
In his address, President Wickremesinghe emphasized the south's aspirations for identity and independence, advocating for regional strength and autonomy. He highlighted the importance of southern countries striving for self-sufficiency and resilience.
The joint inauguration of the UOMDP by President Raisi and President Wickremesinghe marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka's irrigation development, positioning the project as one of the largest initiatives in the country since the Mahaweli Development Project.
Iran is ready to strengthen ties with Sri Lanka and other Asian countries, its president, Ebrahim Raisi, said during the short visit to the island nation, the first by an Iranian president in 16 years.
The two countries are set to sign five pacts, or Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on the visit, only the second since one in April 2008 by Iran's then president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Opening the $514-million hydro power project, Raisi pledged to support development projects in the Indian Ocean island by providing technical and engineering services.
"We stand fully ready to further expand bilateral relations with all Asian countries, our neighbouring countries, and sovereign and independent states," Raisi said.
Sri Lanka is a sovereign, independent country that has aligned policies with Iran, enabling co-operation to create a shining future for both nations, he added.
Iran agreed to build the project in 2010 but funds dried up after it released $50 million, as U.S. sanctions imposed later that year on the Middle East nation made it hard to transfer money, forcing Sri Lanka to fund the rest.
The project was also held up because of the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental concerns and protests from villagers.
The project will add 120MW to the national grid, while supplying water to 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) of farmland and drinking water to thousands of families in three districts, the office of Sri Lanka's president said in a statement.
"What is common with us we should strengthen," President Ranil Wickremesinghe said at the event. "We are all countries that belong to the south at a time when the south wants to establish its own identity and its own independence."
He was referring to the concept of the global south, which emerged to designate developing, emerging or lower-income countries, mostly in the southern hemisphere, and replace the term "Third World" after the Cold War ended.
Following the inauguration of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP), President Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude to Iran for their indispensable technical support. He underscored the pivotal role Iran played in enabling Sri Lanka to divert the Uma Oya tributaries into Kirindi Oya, addressing critical water management challenges.
In his address, President Wickremesinghe emphasized the south's aspirations for identity and independence, advocating for regional strength and autonomy. He highlighted the importance of southern countries striving for self-sufficiency and resilience.
The joint inauguration of the UOMDP by President Raisi and President Wickremesinghe marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka's irrigation development, positioning the project as one of the largest initiatives in the country since the Mahaweli Development Project.
Iran is ready to strengthen ties with Sri Lanka and other Asian countries, its president, Ebrahim Raisi, said during the short visit to the island nation, the first by an Iranian president in 16 years.
The two countries are set to sign five pacts, or Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on the visit, only the second since one in April 2008 by Iran's then president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Opening the $514-million hydro power project, Raisi pledged to support development projects in the Indian Ocean island by providing technical and engineering services.
"We stand fully ready to further expand bilateral relations with all Asian countries, our neighbouring countries, and sovereign and independent states," Raisi said.
Sri Lanka is a sovereign, independent country that has aligned policies with Iran, enabling co-operation to create a shining future for both nations, he added.
Iran agreed to build the project in 2010 but funds dried up after it released $50 million, as U.S. sanctions imposed later that year on the Middle East nation made it hard to transfer money, forcing Sri Lanka to fund the rest.
The project was also held up because of the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental concerns and protests from villagers.
The project will add 120MW to the national grid, while supplying water to 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) of farmland and drinking water to thousands of families in three districts, the office of Sri Lanka's president said in a statement.
"What is common with us we should strengthen," President Ranil Wickremesinghe said at the event. "We are all countries that belong to the south at a time when the south wants to establish its own identity and its own independence."
He was referring to the concept of the global south, which emerged to designate developing, emerging or lower-income countries, mostly in the southern hemisphere, and replace the term "Third World" after the Cold War ended.
Follow US
Most Viewed Stories
