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By Skandha Gunasekara
The Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, Ali Ardeshir Larijani, arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday and met with his Lankan counterpart Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, with talks being held on the promotion of tourism between the two countries as well as on how to enhance bilateral trade, particularly in tea and petroleum.
The discussions were held at the Speaker’s office at the parliamentary complex yesterday.
During the special bilateral discussions between the two Speakers, the promotion of tourism between Sri Lanka and Iran as well as trade in important resources such as tea and petroleum was discussed, including the possibility of Iranian investments in these sectors.
Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, noting that tea was one of the main goods exported to Iran, inquired into the prospect of providing special facilities for Sri Lankan tea exports to Iran.
The Iranian Speaker had expressed interest in investing in Sri Lanka, especially in the agricultural sector.
Speaker Jayasuriya had agreed to inform the relevant ministry officials to implement necessary measures in this regard.
The strengthening of inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries was also addressed during the meeting. Both groups agreed that yesterday’s meeting was key in preparations for
President Maithripala Sirisena’s upcoming official visit to Iran in May.
Following the meeting, the Iranian delegation was hosted to lunch at the parliamentary complex by the
Speaker.
Apart from Speaker Jayasuriya, representatives of the Sri Lanka-Iran Friendship Association were present, including A.H.M. Fowzie, MP Ranjith Aluvihare, MP Sandith Samarasinghe and MP Faizal Cassim.
Members of the Iranian Parliament Mohommad Ashouri Ta Ziani, Mohommad M. Shahnishin, Nazar Afzali, Soheila Jelodar Zadeh and Mohommad Jafari were part of the delegation accompanying the Iranian Speaker of Parliament.
TEHRAN (MNA): Ali Larijani, the Iranian Parliament Speaker, told the media on Wednesday upon arriving in Sri Lanka, that Iran and Sri Lanka should increase their trade interactions and develop political and trade ties.
“Iran has always have had good relations with Sri Lank in areas of trade and politics, although with tides and ebbs but it has always been in place,” said Larijani on Wednesday upon arriving in Sri Lanka while addressing news reporters and journalists.
Larijani, along with a 36-strong delegation, arrived in Colombo on Wednesday at 7.10 p.m. local time and was officially welcomed at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by Sri Lankan State Minister of National Integration and Reconciliation A.H.M. Fowzie and Iranian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mohammed Zaeri Amirani.
The visit is in response to an invitation extended by Sri Lankan house Speaker Karu Jayasuriya.
“Heightening the trade transactions between Iran and Sri Lanka is one of the issues with high priority and it should be considered that now is the best time to expand cooperation between the two countries,” reiterated the top Iranian legislator.
The top Iranian parliamentarian and his accompanying delegation are scheduled to meet government officials including Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Speaker of the House during the two-day visit to the South Asian island nation.
Meanwhile, the top Iranian lawmaker is expected to hold discussions over the ongoing crisis in Syria, according to reports.
This is the second leg of his tour to South Asia as he previously visited Vietnam and held talks with the Vietnamese Prime Minister, Parliament Speaker as well as Head of the Joint Trade Council of Vietnam and Iran and participated in a trade gathering of both countries’ businessmen.
