Sri Lanka President meets his Iranian counterpart

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa held discussions with his Iranian counterpart yesterday on the sidelines of the United Nations 65th General Assembly in New York.

President Rajapaksa and his delegation met Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at his suite in New York Tuesday evening and held bilateral talks.
Sri Lanka and Iran maintain cordial bilateral relations and Iran currently supplies 80 % of Sri Lanka's crude oil need on an interest free credit basis for a period of four months.
The government media unit said during the discussions Sri Lankan President expressed his gratitude to Iranian President and the people of Islamic Republic of Iran for their continuous support to Sri Lanka and its people.
Iranian President during his recent visit to Sri Lanka entered into several Memoranda of Understandings to provide financial assistance to several development projects in Sri Lanka including the Uma Oya project. The facilities at Sapugaskanda Oil refinery is to be augmented with Iranian technical and financial assistance.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Sri Lanka's Permanent representative to the UN Dr Palitha Kohona also participated.
(Pictures by Sudath Silva)