Amir Abdollahian said the two foreign ministers had discussed cooperation at regional and international levels and will be expanding ties in the fields of trade, tourism, science, and culture.
“During our meeting we discussed new possible agreements and also emphasized the implementation of the ones that have already been signed,” said the top diplomat.

According to Amir Abdollahian, the two sides also discussed the exchange of prisoners.
The foreign minister concluded his talks by reiterating the Iranian government’s priorities, saying that Tehran attaches great significance to cooperation with fellow Asian countries. He hoped that different nations in the continent can collaborate in a friendly and constructive manner.

Sabry, for his part, hailed Sri Lanka’s good and friendly relations with Iran. Before his visit, Sri Lankan media reported that the foreign minister would be trying to rejuvenate his country’s presence in the Iranian tea market.

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Speaking to ILNA, Mohammad Sadeq Hasani said that last year a delegation from Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization visited Sri Lanka and the outcome of the visit was an MoU that Sri Lanka accepted to pay its oil debts to Iran through bartering 4 to 8 products and tea was one of them and raw material for producing tire was another product.

Reacting to recent report that Sri Lanka will give tea to Iran in exchange for its oil debts, Hasani said that tea is not the only product of Sri Lanka which will be sent to Iran for its oil and 8 products have been agreed to be sent to Iran, adding that this mechanism of imports will be in favor of producers because the product are imported with suitable price.

He went on to say that domestic tea product does not meet the demands of the domestic market and therefor import is inevitable and last year 110,000 tons of tea was imported which was unprecedented in the history of the country. He noted that 67% of the required tea was imported from India, 16% from Sri Lanka, 7% from the UAE and 3% from Turkey and India.

Hasani reiterated that importers should pass many hurdles in the sanctions era to success in importing their products but bartering tea from Sri Lanka creates the possibility of direct export to Iran and there is no need to give the official rate forex to importers to import tea.

He added the country needs a new formula for balancing the real tea consumption in the country, adding that two years ago 75,000 tons of tea was imported and last year the figure rose to 110,000 tons and added that it seems getting the Nima-rate forex has boosted incentive for imports.

Hasani reiterated that the quality of Sri Lankan tea should be confirmed by Iranian supervisory authorities, adding that barter of tea from Sri Lanka is nothing new to surprise people.

He further said that the price of Indian and Sri Lankan tea is lower than what is registered in the custom office and importers register it with prices higher than their purchase. On exports of Iranian tea, he said that Iran Custom Administration statistics dhow the figure is 10700 tons but it is strange and it seems this amount of tea has not exited the country, admitting mafia group in this industry since the Pahlavi Regime exists and continues its activities.

He admitted that people have lost their purchasing power and it can be seen in the amount of tea sales that tea factories announce.

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In a meeting with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Irrigation Chamal Rajapaksa on Sunday, Ali Akbar Mehrabian pointed to the amicable historical relations between the two countries and expressed hope that the power plants being built by expert Iranian engineers in Sri Lanka will be inaugurated in the near future.

Emphasizing the revival and development of economic, political and cultural ties between Tehran and Colombo, Iran’s energy minister further pointed out that the two countries have much potential to strengthen their bilateral ties in all fields.

He termed establishing a joint economic, political and cultural Cooperation commission for realizing the aforementioned objective “effective and constructive”.

Launch of the commission will help boost trade and economic activities between the two countries optimally, Mehrabian emphasized.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he highlighted the capabilities and potentials of Iranian companies in implementing projects in the water and electricity fields.

He also referred to the significance of the multipurpose and giant project of “Uma Oya” being built by expert Iranian manpower in Sri Lanka and added that the progress of this successful project by Iranian engineers is the result of the fruitful experience of cooperation between the two countries.

He added that today over 13,000 megawatts of hydro power plant exists in Iran, adding that with construction of this power plant in Sri Lanka, the capacity for producing 120 megawatts of electricity will be provided which is accompanied with considerable value added.

Then Rajapaska, for his part, expressed creating the ground for broadening cooperation and relation with Iran and said that in Sri Lanka there are three ministries of energy, water and irrigation.

He added that Sri Lanka in the past year due to the post-Covid era had no good condition in the field of fuel and energy but today it is getting better and according, there is hope and expectation that Iran and Sri Lanka in the future would start new projects in the field of energy and drinking water.

Rajapaska then pointed to the considerable rise in price of energy in Sri Lanka, adding that 50% of the required energy of the country is provided through water and some part through renewable energies and the other part through solar and wind energies. He then termed important investment in the infrastructures for construction of renewable energies, adding that Tehran and Colombo can pursue issues for cooperation in this field, reiterating that one-third of Sri Lankan’s lands has capacity for advancing this cooperation and Iranians can invest in this field.

Rajapaska then welcomed implementing joint projects with Iran, adding that he will do his best to broaden ties between the two countries and his country will study the project for water supply tunnel in his country.

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“It goes without saying that the local tea industry has faced many demanding issues, but on this year’s International Tea Day, we want to celebrate the resilience of our smallholder tea growers, who have overcome pandemic adversity to be back on track to reach high profitability levels,” says Niraj de Mel, the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board.

“The smallholder sector has already achieved so much in terms of sustainability in the past couple of decades that is worth celebrating. This is a new chapter in the story of Ceylon Tea,” he added.

In Sri Lanka, smallholder growers contribute a substantial 75 percent to the overall tea production, making the sector critical to the industry’s success, and to the millions of families who depend on it for their livelihoods.  Though smallholder tea growers have faced tremendous obstacles in the past decade, the sector is emerging with renewed vigour to reach production goals, particularly in the areas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This year’s International Tea Day is set to focus on the smallholder tea growers specifically to support the sector through adversity. The Sri Lanka Tea Board has implemented a number of notable initiatives to safeguard smallholder tea producers in challenging times, many of which have already shown considerable gains, according to Chairman de Mel.

“One very important measure the Tea Board has been involved in is ensuring fair prices for smallholder growers that are on par with the big players, so they don’t miss out on opportunities and are protected,” he said. “While we are aiming to strengthen the smallholder business model, we’ve been quite impressed by what they have done in terms of SDGs that have improved livelihoods and reduced costs.”

Local tea plantations have taken leading measures in adopting SDGs that focus on enhancing workers’ livelihoods and preserving the environment. For an industry once plagued by hardship, the approach has been transformative, with significant gains achieved in terms of social welfare, conservation, and even energy security.

In the verdant estates of the Elpitiya Plantations, the scenic routes going uphill to the tea factories are lined with solar panels. The plantation had installed the panels as part of a sustainability initiative, which is now generating phenomenal results that have helped the estates seamlessly navigate the energy crisis. The Elpitiya Plantation Group is now generating 141 percent renewable energy against consumption.

“We are proud to say that our total energy generation now exceeds our energy consumption,” said Ms. Thilini Edirisinghe, Deputy General Manager of Human Resources of Elpitiya Plantation. “A majority—and 85 percent—of our energy consumption is now from renewable sources. We can say our tea is green-energy produced.”

Numerous other tea plantations have also prioritised green energy generation, driven by both a push towards sustainability and as a practical solution to rising energy costs. The Mathugama Estates, nestled in the hills of Kalutara, now has four hydropower plants. Notably enough, the first-ever zero-liquid discharge plant in the country was built on a tea estate.

The Talawakelle Plantations, which is generating 138 percent energy against consumption, is planning to expand further as part of a broader drive towards environmental sustainability. The estate is currently heavily involved in a reforestation programme to improve the biodiversity of its commercial land.

“We started the reforestation program last year, and we have already planted 2,000 endemic plants on two hectares of land,” elaborated Mr. Krishna Ranagala, Manager of Sustainability and Quality Systems Development of Talawakelle Plantation. “In total, we have planted over 500,000 plants as part of our forestry management programme. Continuing to improve the ecological biodiversity of our estates is a key SDG initiative for us.”

The plantation industry is placing urgent emphasis on worker welfare, with nearly every estate actively engaging in a range of social programmes that provide assistance to field workers and their families. These social welfare initiatives proved to be a lifeline during the pandemic, particularly when many workers had limited access to daily meals due to quarantine restrictions. In an inspiring move, the Horana Plantations encouraged their workers to cultivate gardens, setting aside hectares of plantation land for employees to grow vegetables that served as a vital source of sustenance throughout the difficult times of the pandemic.

The Elpitiya Plantation initiated program to look after the social wellbeing of the plantation workers. “We also built a retirement home for our elderly employees, which is the first time any company in the country has built a retirement home for its own employees,” said Ms. Thilini Edirisinghe, Deputy General Manager of Human Resources of Elpitiya Plantation.

An increasing number of estate companies are actively engaged in promoting upward mobility for their workers. One notable example is the Kahawatta Plantation, which has launched a programme to build infrastructure for employees, including a school for the children of workers. Moreover, the company has spearheaded various initiatives aimed at empowering its workers to earn additional income, fostering a culture of financial stability and growth.

“We have leased out land for employees to cultivate their own food crops,” said Mr. Alex Samuel, Deputy General Manager of HR and Administration at Kahawatta Plantation. “We occasionally donate blocks of our rubber land for contract tapping, so that workers have opportunities to earn additional income,”

“We first implemented this policy in our Malwatte Valley Plantation in 1998, and since then, we have shared 178 million rupees with our workforce through this programme,” said Mr. Jaliya Wijekoon, General Manager of Estate Marketing and Special Projects of Malwatte Valley Plantation.

Plantation companies are undertaking unique, forward-thinking initiatives that are revolutionising the traditional dynamics of the estate sector and setting new standards for worker well-being, some of which are even getting noted by international development professionals. A youth empowerment program at the Hayleys Plantations, which offers an array of educational programmes to young workers and children of employees, was recently selected as a case study separately by the United Nations Global Compact initiative and the INSEAD School of Business in France.

Even small-scale initiatives undertaken by plantation companies have yielded excellent results in uplifting worker welfare. The Kelani Valley Plantation implemented a policy to reduce worker injuries, a goal originally set to be achieved by 2030. However, the estate has already witnessed a significant decrease in the number of injuries among its field workers.

Once called the “world’s finest tea,” the Sri Lankan plantation industry is on a radical journey to reclaim its title with revitalised focus on worker welfare and environmental sustainability. The concerted efforts of plantation companies, government bodies, and trade associations are creating a more equitable and prosperous future for the industry and its workforce. As the demand for premium tea continues to grow globally, Sri Lanka is poised to take its place as a leading producer of high-quality, socially responsible tea.

“What we want to highlight this year is that Ceylon Tea is not just a product that tastes great, but also a brand that values its workforce and prioritises environmental protection,” Chairman de Mel said. “When we celebrate the rich heritage of Ceylon Tea, we also want to highlight these great achievements that have had a major positive impact on the estate community and the country as a whole.”

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On Wednesday, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tehran held a meeting for reviewing the current tourism interaction between Iran and Sri Lanka, and also honored the top Iranian tour operators and travel agencies in promoting tourism to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan Ambassador Mr. G.M.V.Wishwanah Aponsu hosted the event where the Secretary General of Asian Mayors Forum Hamidreza Gholamzadeh, Head of Association of Iranian Travel Agencies Hormatollah Rafiei and some other distinguished guests and Foreign Ministry official were present.

The event “Emerging Trend of Destination Sri Lanka Among Iran Tourists” started with candle-lighting ceremony and then Ambassador Wishwanah Aponsu briefed the participants of the current tourism condition in his country and his embassy’s activities in Tehran.

He said that since his arrival in Tehran in 2019 he has tried to boost cooperation with Iran in tourism and in recent years the number of Iranian visitors to Sri Lanka or vice versa has been on the rise and according to the recent statistics in the first quarter of 2023, the number of Iranian visitors to Sri Lanka has set a new record and Iran has ranked 9th among foreign visitors to Sri Lanka in March 2023 while in the past, Iranians had not been among the top 20 countries visiting Sri Lanka. He reiterated that the number of Iranian tourists to Sri Lanka in March grew by 67% comparing to the same period in 2023.

He said “Iran has been emerged as rank 13 of highest tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka during the first quarter of 2013 and for the month of March (Nowruz) Iran has been placed as rank 9 of highest tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka.”

Aponsu added “As you are aware we continue to expand two-way tourism between Sri Lanka and Iran as Iranian tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka increased by 983% in 2022 comparing to 2021 and this year and in the first quarter more than 5,000 Iranians visited Sri Lanka which shows 77% growth comparing to the same period in 2022 and this is a great achievement for all of us.”

He added Russians have been ranked first among the tourists visiting Sri Lanka. He admitted the pandemic had affected Sri Lankan tourism industry in 2022, adding that Sri Lanka was among one of the top 20 tourist destinations in the world in 2022. He said in the first quarter of 2023 some 3.5m tourists visited Sri Lanka which showed 17% growth comparing to the same period in 2022.

He also hailed Iranian tour operators, travel agencies and some airliners for helping the embassy for advancing its program for promoting tourism, adding that the embassy is now ready to open a tourism information center which will help enthusiasts who want to visit Sri Lanka.

Aponsu then noted that those who wish to visit Sri Lanka can easily apply through ETA visa online system.

He then stated “I am so proud of indicating that Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in coordination with concerned local authorities facilitates the continued and uninterrupted supply of all facilities and other essentials as well as too ensure the comfort and safety of tourists, including women travelers.”

The ambassador hailed those who involved in this achievement and called for more cooperation especially from the media for promotion and introduction of tourist attractions of both states.

Meanwhile in the event Head of the Association of Iranian Travel Agencies Mr. Rafiei hailed Sri Lankan Ambassador for his non-stop efforts for boosting tourism between the two countries and said that tourism is the best medium for nations to know each other and reiterated that nobody should talk negatively about tourism and all should try to boost this industry despite problems. He expressed hope by the launch of direct flight between Iran and Sri Lanka, the number of tourists between the two states would increase.

The event ended with presenting awards to the top tour operators, travel agencies and media which helped boosting tourism between Sri Lanka and Iran.

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During his opening remarks, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Iran G.M.V. Wishwanath Aponsu introduced Sri Lanka as a country of natural wonders, historical momentous, unique lifestyles with more delicious typical cuisine, friendly people and safe & secure destination. Highlighting the recent growth of Iranian tourists’ floor to Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan envoy appreciated the significant role of tour operators, travel agencies, airlines and relevant others for achieving the present progress of tourist arrivals. Further, he made an open and friendly request to all represented tourism stakeholders in the Promotion Program to encourage the friendly people of Iran to continue visiting in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan tourism is ready to welcome them with their required facilities with great hospitalities.

During the productive discussion of the Program which was contributed by the four panelists, Deputy President for International Affairs, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture Dr. Alireza Yavari, Expert of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran Mohammad Deldari, Airline Specialist Majid Singh and Former Secretary General of the Air Transport and Tourist Agencies Faramarz Saeedi highlighted Sri Lanka as unique and affordable tourist destination. Several suggestions including the need of operating direct air link between Iran and Sri Lanka, conducting regular tourism awareness programmes, convening B2B meetings between the both Chambers, introducing reasonable tour packages, initiating FAM tour campaigns, providing publicity through electronic and print media and facilitating for bilateral instruments were also discussed.

In response, Ambassador Wishwanath Aponsu pointed out that the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tehran is in the process of working on some proposals in coordination with the concerned authorities of Sri Lanka and Iran with a focus on expanding two-way tourism floor between the two countries. In this scenario, he emphasized all tourism related stakeholders of both countries have a significant role to proceed the proposals and expressed that  reaching for rapid growth expected in tourism is “leave no one behind”. On behalf of the Iran Tourist Association, Saeedi thanked the Sri Lanka Embassy for timely organizing the tourism event and assured his Association fullest support to expand two-way tourism.

The event was attended by over 65 participants working in Iran tourism industry, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Foreign Ministry, airlines, media personnel and prominent business people. The invitees were treated to a reception with several Sri Lankan typical food items with Ceylon tea taste.

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Kanaani also expressed hope that the situation in the country will return to the path of law as soon as possible, according to the Iranian foreign ministry.

The spokesman also pointed to the constant contacts with the Iranian embassy in Colombo and receiving news of the safety of Iranians living in Sri Lanka, urging them to stay away from gathering focal points and keep in touch with the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Colombo.

Sri Lanka has been rocked by a wave of protests that toppled the government and forced the country’s president to flee his presidential palace which was stormed by protestors.

In a post on Instagram issued by the Iranian embassy in Colombo, the embassy also congratulated the occasion of Eid al-Adha, and asked Iranian nationals to avoid gatherings and contact the consular section of the embassy in case of necessity.

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On Sunday, Pir Hossein Kolivand, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, met separately with Kyrgyzstan Ambassador Turdakun Sydykov and Sri Lanka Ambassador Wishwanath Aponsu.

The Sri Lankan envoy called for importing medical items and equipment from Iran to ease the crisis of medicine shortage in his country.

Aponsu also said that Sri Lanka’s economic situation today is extremely critical, especially in the fields of oil, fuel, medicine, etc., and the poor situation in Sri Lankan hospitals is due to the shortage of medicines for cancer patients, diabetics, and medicines for pediatric diseases.

Pointing to Iran as a manufacturer of medicine and medical equipment, he called for cooperation with the IRCS, because Sri Lanka not only has problems in supplying medicine but also with medical equipment.

The Kyrgyz ambassador, for his part, announced readiness to expand medical cooperation with Iran, suggesting the construction of a hospital in the Lakan region, which is one of the deprived areas of Kyrgyzstan.

On a global scale, 56 percent of 500,000 medical equipment items available in the world market have Iranian versions.

Kolivand also announced readiness for cooperation with the two countries and said that Iran has long supported humanitarian activities.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society, in addition to being the only institution in the country that can set up medical centers abroad, also has a high capacity in the field of training aid workers, Kolivand said.

He also noted that Iran can help the countries struggling with medicine and medical equipment shortages.

Share of global market

Iran holds a share of one percent (about $5 billion) in the global market for medical equipment of approximately $500 billion, but the country has the potential to increase the share, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Health.

In 2018, the National Medical Device Directorate reported that the Iranian medical equipment market was worth $2.5 billion, 30 percent of which belonged to over 1,000 domestic firms.

On a global scale, 56 percent of 500,000 medical equipment items available in the world market have Iranian versions. In pharmaceuticals, around 70 percent of Iran’s $4.5 billion markets are domestic products and, in 2018, 97 percent of pharmaceuticals consumed in the country were manufactured locally.

In 2018, 67 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) used to produce drugs in Iran were made locally.

A total of 227 knowledge-based firms are supplying medical equipment for health centers across the country, according to the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.

Iranian companies producing medical equipment export their products to 54 countries across the world.

IRCS services

The IRCS, established in 1922, is one of the first and oldest members of the movement and is currently one of the top five societies in the world due to its significant activities in the national and international arenas.

Currently, some 14 medical facilities of the IRCS are offering humanitarian, relief, and health services to the deprived people in 13 countries, including Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates, Bolivia, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Congo, Kenya, Lebanon, Mali, Niger, and Ecuador.

In 2005, the IRCS received the Henry Davison Award for outstanding humanitarian services, and the IRCS initiative of volunteers was selected as the best project (out of 50 projects from 45 national societies), by the General Assembly of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

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“I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to Your Excellency and the people of your country on the independence anniversary and the national day of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,” Raisi said in the message.

In his message, Ayatollah Raisi also expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries would expand in various fields.

He added, “I hope that in line with the existing political will between the leaders of the two countries, friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries in various fields and in the mutual interests of the two nations will expand.”

The Iranian president concluded his message by saying, “I wish Your Excellency health and success, and the people of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka prosperity and felicity.”

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian had sent a congratulatory message to his Sri Lankan counterpart to felicitate him on the occasion of the anniversary of Sri Lanka’s independence.

Amir Abdollahian sent the message to G. L Pieris, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, cordially congratulating him, the Sri Lankan government and the friendly nation on the anniversary of the country’s independence.

“Given the close and friendly relations between the two nations and the existence of favorable grounds for bilateral cooperation in various fields, I am confident that in the future we will witness, further strengthening of cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, regionally and internationally,” Amir Abdollahian’s message said.

The Iranian president also sent a similar message to his Italian counterpart on his re-election.

“I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to Your Excellency on your re-election as the President of Italy. While emphasizing the friendly relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Italian Republic, as well as emphasizing the long history of political, economic and cultural relations, I hope that the two countries’ interactions would further expand in bilateral, international and regional fields based on various potentials for cooperation and mutual respect through joint efforts,” Raisi told the Italian president.

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Speaking to ILNA, Ashjaazadeh rejected the reports that Sri Lanka barters second and third class tea for oil with Iran, adding that the two countries have signed an MoU wherein the mechanism of payment has been changed and now traders of the two countries reach an agreement and then instead of money transfer from Iran to Sri Lanka, the money is paid to Sri Lankan trade partners via Sri Lankan’s debts to Iran. He noted of course those traders who are currently active in Sri Lanka are noble traders who try to import good quality tea from Sri Lanka and if low quality tea is imported, it is not because of the MoU and the agreement and it is because of the trader.

Touching upon the recent MoU between Colombo and Tehran regarding mechanism for payment of Sri Lanka’s debts to Iran, the diplomat said that it is not correct to use the term of “barter” for this agreement and MoU, and it is not in fact any barter and it is only a mechanism for return of Iran’s prolonged debts.

Ashjaazadeh added that in fact in the MoU which has been signed for Iran’s nine-year-old debts which is estimated around $215m, tea is an essential commodity as it once used to be exported to Iran even before this agreement, and it has been taken into consideration in the agreement and therefore by monthly import of tea worth of around $5m, the prolonged debts of Sri Lanka to Iran will be settled.

He added that of course Iran is willing to get its money through the common banking systems but due to some reasons it is impossible and therefore choosing tea in Sri Lanka as a commodity for barter in exchange of money is quite logical because Sri Lanka is one of the best tea producing countries and currently considerable amount of tea is imported into Iran from Sri Lanka which is welcomed by Iranian consumers.

The ambassador reiterated that in the MoU it has been stipulated that in case sanctions are removed, the agreement will be halted and money plus its interests will be paid via common banking systems. He stipulated that the MoU is currently about for payment of Sri Lanka’s debts to Iran and currently Iran does not intend to expand it to other things.

Ashjaazadeh noted that this MoU was mostly welcomed in the Sri Lankan media because Sri Lanka is currently grappling with the debts and financial problems. He also rejected that this agreement and export of tea from Sri Lanka will be a blow to Iranian tea planters and said according to the statistics, Iran produces annually 30,000 tons at its best and some of this volume is also exported while Iran needs between 100,000 to 120,000 tons of tea annually, and it means the country at least needs importing some 80,000 tons of tea annually to meet its demands. He said therefore import of tea is no new issue because 80 percent of the domestic demands are imported and Sri Lanka is one of the best tea producing countries in the world.

The diplomat went on to say that Sri Lankans seek importing oil and fuel from Iran and the talks are underway as a couple of months ago Sri Lankan energy minister had a visit to Tehran, adding that the mechanism for payment for the oil sale is the main hurdle for oil export to Sri Lanka and recent MoU may resolve the problem.

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