Iran, Sri Lanka, hydropower, agriculture, international relations, sanctions, energy, infrastructure, cooperation, diplomacy.
Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, arrived in Sri Lanka to inaugurate a long-delayed hydropower and irrigation project. This project, valued at $514 million, faced delays due to international sanctions against Iran. Despite starting in 2010, funding was halted in 2013, compelling Sri Lanka to finance the project independently using the same Iranian contractor. Initially set for completion in 2015, setbacks including sanctions, technical issues, and the pandemic prolonged its timeline.
Once operational, the project will contribute 290 GWh of electricity annually to the national grid and irrigate thousands of hectares of land. Raisi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe are set to sign five memoranda of understanding and issue a joint statement, highlighting their commitment to cooperation. Raisi’s visit follows discussions in Pakistan aimed at bolstering economic and security ties between the two nations.
