Iranian President Raisi Arrives in Sri Lanka to Open Hydropower Project and Sign Agreements

On April 24, 2024, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrives in Sri Lanka to inaugurate a $514-million hydropower project and sign five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), marking the first visit by an Iranian president to the country since 2008. The visit took place despite delays caused by U.S. sanctions on Iran and the COVID-19 pandemic.

During his one-day official visit, Raisi will participate in a public ceremony to open the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, one of the largest irrigation projects in Sri Lanka. The project, which was designed and built by Iran's Farab Company, aims to alleviate water scarcity in the southeastern dry region of Sri Lanka by redirecting excess water from the Uma Oya basin to the Kirindi Oya basin. It is expected to provide irrigation water to 4,500 hectares of new land and 1,500 hectares of existing agricultural land, as well as generate 290 GWh of electricity annually.

The ceremony will be chaired by the presidents of Iran and Sri Lanka, symbolizing the cooperation between the two nations in this significant infrastructure endeavor. The project faced various challenges, including technical issues, social impacts, financial constraints, and the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a delay in its completion from the initial 2015 target to March 2024 "The project was originally agreed upon in a 2007 MoU and the contract was awarded to Iran's Farab Company in 2008 as an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract," according to project details.

In addition to the hydropower project inauguration, Raisi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe are going to sign five bilateral agreements in the technology and engineering sectors to boost relations between Iran and Sri Lanka. The visit and the signing of the MoUs are aimed at bolstering the economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries, which had been affected by the U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Why this matters: The visit by the Iranian President and the signing of agreements signify strengthening ties between Sri Lanka and Iran, despite the challenges posed by U.S. sanctions. The completion of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project is expected to contribute to Sri Lanka's agricultural development and energy sustainability.

Sri Lankan authorities, traffic, security, areas, including, implemented tight security measures, including road closures and traffic restrictions, in and around Colombo and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, where Raisi arrived. The security measures were precautionary, and officials did not publicize any specific threats. Businesses and travelers were advised to avoid affected areas, allow additional time for transport, and cooperate with security checks during the high-profile visit.

Key Takeaways

• Iranian President Raisi arrives in Sri Lanka to inaugurate a $514M hydropower project.
• The project aims to alleviate water scarcity and generate 290 GWh of electricity annually.
• Raisi and Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe signed 5 bilateral agreements to boost relations.
• The visit and agreements signify strengthening ties between Sri Lanka and Iran.
• Tight security measures were implemented in Colombo and Mattala during Raisi's visit.