Sri Lanka hailed the visit of Iranian Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday as an important gesture of friendship between the two nations that will also boost this country's infrastructure projects.
Ahmadinejad was to arrive Monday evening after a brief visit to Pakistan. He is scheduled to meet with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa soon after his arrival, and the two men will sign economic and cooperation agreements, according to a statement by the Sri Lankan government.
On Tuesday, Ahmadinejad will tour a refinery and a hydropower and irrigation project, which are the recipients of Iranian aid money.
Iran has pledged US$1.9 billion in soft loans and grants to Sri Lanka to help it expand its only oil refinery, develop an irrigation and hydropower project and buy Iranian oil, according to the Sri Lankan government.
"With this visit and the new agreements on economic ties, Iran is expected to emerge as one of the major donors of economic assistance to Sri Lanka," the Sri Lankan government said in a statement.
Ahmadinejad's visit highlighted Sri Lanka's slow turn from the West, which has expressed concerns about Colombo's human awayrights record, and its embrace of donors less critical of its escalating war against ethnic Tamil rebels.
The capital city of Colombo was plastered Sunday with posters showing smiling photos of Ahmadinejad and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the slogans: "The Friendly Path to Progress" and "Traditional Asian Solidarity." (****)
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