Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s arrival in Sri Lanka on Wednesday marks a significant chapter in bilateral relations. Raisi’s visit is the first by an Iranian leader since former President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad traveled to the island nation in 2008. The centerpiece of this visit is the inauguration of a $514 million hydropower and irrigation project that has faced years of delays due to international sanctions and other factors.
The project, undertaken by Iran’s FARAB engineering group with initial funding of $50 million from Iran, commenced in 2010. However, international sanctions imposed on Iran in 2013 halted further funding. The Sri Lankan government subsequently resolved to complete the project using its own resources and the existing Iranian contractor.
Initially targeted for completion in 2015, the project encountered further delays stemming from sanctions, technical issues, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, it is now set to add a substantial 290 GWh of electricity to the national grid annually, while also irrigating vast tracts of land. Specifically, the project will provide irrigation for 4,500 hectares of new land and 1,500 hectares of existing agricultural land.
During Raisi’s visit, he and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe are scheduled to witness the signing of five memoranda of understanding and issue a joint statement. Raisi’s arrival in Sri Lanka follows a visit to Pakistan, where both countries pledged to enhance their economic and security cooperation.
