Sri Lanka President to leave for Iran tomorrow to attend G-15

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave for Iran tomorrow for a three-day official visit.
The President will participate in the summit of 'Group of 15' (G-15) state leaders. The summit will be held from May 15 to 17 in Tehran.



President Rajapaksa is to assume the chairmanship of the 18-member organization from President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the forthcoming summit. The President will address the summit on May 17th.

The President is scheduled to meet the Iranian President on the sidelines of the meeting to discuss strengthening bilateral ties.

At least eight presidents from the three continents of Asia, Africa and America will attend the G-15 summit in Tehran next Monday.

Prior to the heads of state meeting, the G15 foreign ministers will meet in Tehran on Saturday. Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris will leave the island today to participate in the Foreign Minister's meeting.
Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe will accompany the President to Tehran.
The G-15, established by 15 developing countries during the Ninth Non-Aligned Summit in September 1989, focuses on cooperation among developing countries in the areas of investment, trade, and technology.
The upcoming Summit would review the strategies and policies of the Group on important international issues such as the current financial and economic crisis.
The G-15 comprises Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, Nigeria, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe.