RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO — The Movement for Solidarity with Iran organised ‘ We Stand with Iran ” express from solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its Leadership in the front of Iran Embassy Colombo Wednesday February 11.
As the Islamic Republic of Iran commemorates the 47th Anniversary of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic, a group of activists handed a letter to the Iran embassy here to express their solidarity with Iran.
The letter states : ” We extend our warmest greetings and sincere congratulations to its Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and to the resilient and dignified people of Iran. This historic milestone stands as a testament to the determination of a nation that chose sovereignty, independence, and cultural authenticity over subjugation. The endurance of the Islamic Republic over nearly five decades reflects the strength of its institutions, the steadfastness of its leadership, and the unwavering commitment of its people.
We express our unequivocal solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in the face of sustained political, economic, and ideological aggression by neo-colonial forces determined to dominate West Asia and exploit its peoples and resources.
This solidarity is grounded not only in shared principles, but also in the age-old fraternal friendship between Iran and Sri Lanka, a relationship that extends from ancient times to the present day. For centuries, our two civilizations have been connected through trade, culture, and mutual respect, forming a bond based on sovereignty, dignity, and non-interference—values that remain vital in today’s increasingly polarized world.
For more than four decades, Iran has stood as a rare example of an independent state that has refused to submit to external diktats, military intimidation, economic coercion, and cultural subjugation. This principled refusal has come at a heavy cost. Unilateral sanctions, disinformation campaigns, covert destabilization efforts, and persistent threats of force have been imposed not because Iran threatens the world, but because it challenges an unjust global order built on hegemony, extraction, and double standards.
The so-called “rules-based order” has repeatedly revealed itself to be selective and self-serving. Nations that occupy territories, conduct bombardments, and collectively punish entire populations are shielded and armed, while those that insist on sovereignty, dignity, and self-determination are demonized and besieged. Iran’s resistance to this system has made it a primary target of neo-imperial hostility.
Under the leadership of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran has articulated a political vision rooted in independence, cultural authenticity, social justice, and resistance to domination. It is undeniable that Iran’s leadership represents a conscious rejection of foreign tutelage and a firm insistence that the future of the region must be determined by its own peoples, not by external powers.
Sri Lanka bears direct witness to Iran’s commitment to genuine South–South cooperation. During some of the most challenging periods of our national history, Iran extended support to the Sri Lankan state without political conditions or interference in our internal affairs. Iran contributed to rural electrification initiatives, supported critical infrastructure development such as the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Development Project, supplied crude oil on concessionary and easy payment terms, and has remained one of the leading buyers of Ceylon tea, sustaining livelihoods and strengthening Sri Lanka’s export economy. These actions reflected solidarity rooted in partnership and mutual respect, not transactional or coercive relationships.
For the people of Sri Lanka, standing with Iran today is therefore not merely an expression of political alignment, but a moral duty and a moment of rightful reciprocity. At a time when Iran is being besieged, isolated, and pressured by world-devouring powers seeking to impose submission, Sri Lankans remember with gratitude the solidarity extended by Iran during our own times of hardship. Loyalty to friends who stood with us without conditions is a value deeply embedded in our civilizational ethos. To stand by Iran now is an affirmation of conscience, gratitude, and enduring South–South solidarity.
The Middle East has suffered immensely from decades of wars, coups, sanctions, and engineered instability—often justified under the banners of “security,” “democracy,” or “human rights,” yet consistently resulting in devastation, displacement, and dependency. The persistence of these interventions reveals their true objective: maintaining hegemonic control over strategic geography and vast natural resources.
We therefore affirm the right of Iran, like all sovereign nations, to chart its own political, economic, and cultural path free from coercion. We reject the criminalization of resistance and the normalization of aggression. Dialogue, mutual respect, and genuine international law—not sanctions, sieges, and threats—are the only legitimate foundations for peace.
Standing with Iran today is not merely a matter of geopolitics. It is a stand for sovereignty over subjugation, dignity over domination, and independence over neo-colonial control. History has repeatedly shown that nations which refuse to bow are often vilified in their time—and vindicated in the long view.
We stand in solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and its leadership in their ongoing struggle to defend their sovereignty, their resources, and their right to exist free from hegemonic pressure.”
