COLOMBO : Dr. Ebrahim Raisi’s historic state visit to Sri Lanka marked a turning point in the provision of technical and engineering services by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
It is considered a pivotal moment in Iran’s technical and engineering services to Sri Lanka as well as its relationships with important and strategic countries in the Indian Ocean region, especially Sri Lanka.
Currently, Sri Lanka is the chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which amplifies the significance of this state visit. Despite pressures from the United States, the existence of this technical project not only prevents a decline in Iran-Sri Lanka relations but also strengthens and expands bilateral relations further. Another importance of this project is that despite Iran being under severe international sanctions, by undertaking this project beyond its geographical borders, it has demonstrated its technical and engineering capabilities to the world, especially to countries in the Indian Ocean region thirsty for similar projects.
Sri Lanka’s warm welcome to Dr. Raisi, including plaques bearing his image on most intersections in Colombo, signifies the immense importance of this trip for Sri Lanka. Over the past two days, most Sri Lankans have been informed of this trip through the media, and banners have been displayed on Colombo’s intersections with the following message: “Welcome to His Excellency Dr. Ebrahim Raisi, the Lion of the Middle East. We thank him for completing the multi-purpose development project of Uma Oya.”