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VIDEO: Sri Lanka and Iran pledge to further strengthen ties
Sep 27, 201309:06 PM
The way forward would be for developing nations to build closer relationships and start speaking as one voice, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani told President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
“We must continue to help one another to be sustainably unified,” President Rouhani said, adding that countries should not let separatism and conflict take root in their regions.
President Rajapaksa and his Iranian counterpart held discussions in New York City Thursday (Sept. 26) afternoon.
The two heads-of-state, who were attending the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, pledged to further strengthen the already friendly relations between the two countries, the Presidential Spokesman said.
President Rajapaksa thanked President Rouhani for Iran’s support to Sri Lanka, particularly in the energy sector and with other major infrastructure projects.
“We always appreciate the support that you give us,” President Rajapaksa said.
President Rajapaksa also explained to President Rouhani how Sri Lanka suffered for the past three decades because of terrorism and described how the country is recovering and rebuilding after the war ended in 2009, including infrastructure development, resettlement of internally displaced persons and conducting elections in conflict-affected areas.
“We will continue our efforts to maintain friendly relations,” President Rouhani assured President Rajapaksa.
The two presidents also spoke about supporting one another in matters of international affairs with President Rajapaksa pointing out that Muslim countries have always supported Sri Lanka in international fora.
Among the delegation accompanying President Rouhani were Permanent Representative of Iran to the United Nations Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee, Special Adviser to the President Mr. Hussein Fereydon, Chief-of-Staff at the Iranian President’s Office Mr. Nahavandian.
The Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Mr. Dullas Alahapperuma, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Dr. Palitha Kohona and Additional Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Mrs. Kshenuka Seneviratne were present at the meeting.
