Sri Lanka welcomes Iranian President

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived  at the Bandaranaike International Air Port around 7.30 pm in local time  and President Mahinda Rajapaksa welcomed the visiting dignitary.

He was welcomed at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama. The Navy accorded a Guard of honour by offering 21 gun salute to the visiting President.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, the president would hold talks with his counterpart, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Rathnasiri and Foreign Minister Bogollagama.

During President Ahmadinejad's visit to Colombo, several documents are expected to be signed by Iranian and Sri Lankan officials for promotion of bilateral cooperation.

Iran-funded 450 million-dollar multi-purposes Uma Oya Project will ommence on Tuesday when the Iranian president and his Sri Lankan counterpart ceremonially inaugurate the mega development project in Sri Lanka.

Other major projects due to be inaugurated on Tuesday by the Iranian president is the expansion of the Sapugaskanda refinery which will make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in aviation fuel and bitumen.

Both projects are funded by the Islamic Republic of Iran to the tune of over US$ 1.9 billion, which was pledged during President Mahinda Rajapaksa's state visit to Iran in November last year.