Many economic benefits from Iran
By Don Asoka Wijewardena
Power and Energy Minister
W.D.J.Seneviratne delivers a speech on the occasion of the 29th
Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution at Ceylon Continental
hotel recently.Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran Behnam
Behrouz was also present.
In the wake of President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s
visit,Iran has expressed its willingness to provide a number of
economic benefits to Sri Lanka.The economic benefits will
enhance the country’s on-going economic development to a great
extent.Several agreements and MoUs have been signed between the
two countries and the Sri Lankan government is extremely
grateful to Iran for its magnanimous gesture,Power and Energy
Minister W.D.J.Seneviratne said on the occasion of Iran’s
National Day held at Ceylon Continental hotel recently.
Minister Seneviratne said that Iranian
assistance to develop the Sapugaskanda oil refinery,Uma-Oya
power generation project,financial assistance in petroleum
imports from Iran,streamlining customs,development of maritime
shipping and enhancement of media co-operation is
appreciated.These projects were extremely important in the field
of Sri Lanka’s economic development.
He noted that two MoU’s had been signed with the
Iranian Chamber of Commerce to enhance the private sector
business co-operation and another MoU was signed to develop
Industry and Mines with the Iranian Federation of Commerce.To
facilitate financial and technical co-operation another MoU was
signed between the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka and the
Mostazafan Foundation in Iran.The Iranian Commerce Minister’s
visit to Sri Lanka in January this year had strengthened the
bi-lateral economic co-operation between the two countries
further.
He added that Iran’s economic assistance would
of immense value to Sri Lanka at this juncture because the
country was on the verge of standing on its own feet after two
decades of brutal terrorism which had devastated the economy.The
trade and investment between the two countries had made great
strides as Iran had continued to be a major buyer of Sri Lankan
tea.Tea exports to Iran had seen a dramatic increase in recent
times and new vistas of economic co-operation between the two
countries would further strengthen bi-lateral ties.
