RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO– line with the expansion of cultural and artistic cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, a meeting was held on Tuesday, 14 July , between Ali Kebriaei-Zadeh, Cultural Counselor of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sri Lanka, .and Keerthi Welisarage, Chairman of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka, and Dr. Sunil Wijesirivardhana, Member of the Board of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka. The meeting took place at the Arts Council of Sri Lanka, under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ali Kebriaei-Zadeh referred to more than 40 years of activity by the Cultural Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sri Lanka, stating that throughout these years, the Cultural Center has maintained extensive cooperation with various cultural, artistic, and academic institutions in the country and is ready to further strengthen these collaborations and expand them into new fields.
In his remarks, Keerthi Welisarage welcomed the Iranian delegation and referred to the long-standing friendly relations between Iran and Sri Lanka, stating that the two countries have enjoyed deep cultural ties for many years and that these relations have continued to grow steadily.
Referring to the richness of Iranian literature and culture, he spoke about the familiarity of the Sri Lankan people with the works of prominent Iranian thinkers and poets such as Omar Khayyam, Mawlana Jalal al-Din Balkhi (Rumi), Ferdowsi, and Saadi. He emphasized that the humanistic, ethical, and spiritual messages conveyed through these works continue to inspire Sri Lankan society.
The Chairman of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka also praised Iranian cinema, describing it as one of the world’s most distinguished cinemas in promoting human values. He referred to films by renowned Iranian directors, including Abbas Kiarostami and Majid Majidi, which are well known and highly respected among art enthusiasts in Sri Lanka.
In another part of the meeting, the Chairman introduced the organizational structure of the Arts Council, explaining that it consists of nine specialized divisions covering various artistic fields, each responsible for the development and policymaking of a specific branch of the arts, including cinema, music, and literature.
The two sides also exchanged views on areas of joint cooperation, including literature, the translation and publication of Iranian literary works into the Sinhala language, the organization of joint literary meetings, and the further promotion of the cinema of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sri Lanka.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides emphasized the significant capacities of the two countries in the fields of culture, arts, and literature, and expressed their hope for the continuation of consultations and planning for the implementation of joint cultural and artistic projects.
