Several leading Iranian companies have shown interest in investing in power generation and petroleum sector projects in Sri Lanka.

The Iranian Foreign Minister Monouchehr Mottaki who met his Sri Lankan counterpart in Tehran said that several Iranian investors are planning to start hydropower plant projects in Sri Lanka and the government would support investments in the petroleum sector in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama had bilateral talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Monouchehr Mottaki in Tehran this morning during his 3 -day official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Sri Lankan minister also invited Iran to invest in identified areas such as agriculture, technology, industry, construction and infrastructure development.

The Sri Lanka Minister of Foreign Affairs also discussed further assistance in the oil and infrastructure sector including construction of bridges, highways, flyovers and expressways.

The Sri Lankan delegation at the bilateral talks between Sri Lanka and Iran comprised Minister of Foreign Affairs Rohitha Bogollagama, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Iran M. M. Zuhair, Director General (Middle East and Africa), I. Ansar, Asoka Rajapakse of the Foreign Ministry and B. Vidyarathna, First Secretary of the Sri Lanka Embassy, Tehran.

The Iranian minister also said that Sri Lanka is the gateway to the subcontinent in the production and distribution. Iran will consider further collaboration to participate in oil processing activities in Sri Lanka.

The visiting Sri Lankan minister was also scheduled to have meetings with the Iranian Minister of Economy and the Finance.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has bilateral relations in trade and economic fields.

The Sri Lankan minister appreciated Iranian Government’s support for promotion of trade and investment in Sri Lanka and pointed out the volume of trade between the two countries is US$ 800 million and there is more potential for further expansion.