RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO — The Cultural Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Colombo had organised the commemoration of the Second Death Anniversary of Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, Former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Former Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. It was held under the patronage of Iran Cultural Centre Cultural Counsellor Ali Kebriaei Zadeh on Thursday May 21.
The guest speaker of the event was former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sarby who said: ” I had the honour of meeting both President Raisi and Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian during my tenure as Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka — in Tehran and, most memorably, during President Raisi’s State Visit to Sri Lanka. That visit came at an extraordinarily difficult moment for our country, and it produced something enduring: the inauguration of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project, a symbol of partnership that continues to benefit Sri Lankans to this day. But before I speak of that, allow me to speak of the men themselves.”
Sabry recalled that President Raisi was a man of calm dignity, humility, and quiet strength. Despite leading a nation facing extraordinary geopolitical pressure and economic challenges, he carried himself with composure and conviction. ” What struck me most was his sincerity — and his deep, unfeigned concern for ordinary people. I recall him speaking not about power or prestige, but about the welfare of farmers, of families, of those whom governments so often forget. He believed strongly in national dignity, sovereignty, and justice, and he represented a generation of leaders who held that nations of the Global South must engage one another on the basis of mutual respect and equality — never dependency or domination.”
Ambassador of Iran Dr. Alireza Delkosh said : ” The martyred Ayatollah Raisi and the martyred Dr. Ami Abdollahian were tireless, sincere, and eminent managers who gave a new meaning to self-sacrifice for the homeland. The Late Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khamenei (may his shadow endure forever), described this great martyr with words such as “man of the people”, “tireless”, “pious”, and “wise”; qualities that stand as the highest medal of honor on his brilliant record. His lifestyle and management style were a manifestation of simple living, justice-seeking, anti-corruption, and sincere, unrequited service to the people, while his conscious and freedom-seeking positions on global stages brought dignity to the Islamic Ummah.”
In the realm of foreign policy, the envoy pointed out that the martyred President Raisi and his capable Foreign Minister built a resilient and enduring bridge between the “Field” and “Diplomacy”. The strategic approach of his government was founded upon rationality, prioritizing neighbors, developing regional relations, and de-escalation of tensions. Major achievements, such as the permanent membership of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRICS, are only a glimpse of the successes born from this macro-vision. Furthermore, under the most difficult circumstances, they served as the eloquent and defenseless voice of the oppressed Palestinian nation in international forums.
“The particular attention of the martyred President and Foreign Minister toward developing relations with Asian countries is deeply intertwined with the contemporary history of the region. A clear testament to this claim is that Ayatollah Raisi’s very last official foreign visit was made to the friendly nation and beautiful land of Sri Lanka, ” the ambassador noted.
A video presentation showing the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka and Kollupitiya Jumma Mosque was played.
Imam of the Kollupitiya Jumma Mosque Ash Sheik Shaeed Jamshid recited special dua (prayers) at this ceremony. Religious Leaders, Senior Officials of the Embassy of Iran and Media Personnel were also present.
