TEHRAN (FNA) - Iranian Foreign Minster Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday that the nations of Iran and Sri Lanka can serve as messengers of peace and friendship for the region.

Speaking in a meeting with visiting Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker W.J.M Lokubandara who arrived in Tehran at the head of a political and parliamentary delegation on Sunday, Mottaki reiterated, “We believe that security paves the way for development and welfare of the whole the region.”
He referred to the traditional relations between the two countries, and underlined that Iran-Sri Lanka “relations have always been progressive and based on mutual interests,” adding that the two countries have “taken big steps towards progress”.
“We have abundant cultural and lingual bonds and commonalities with Sri Lanka and India,” Mottaki added.
As regards Sri Lanka’s active presence in international circles and the country’s hosting of Asian Dialogue Conference in 2009, he expressed hope that the said talks would pave the way for deepening cooperation among Asian countries.
Reminding that the Islamic Republic of Iran will host the conference in 2010, the official said the conference in Tehran could underpin infrastructures needed for an Asian Union.
Lokubandara, for his part, pointed to the two countries’ expanded ties in parliamentary, economic and cultural areas, particularly in energy, engineering, contracting, refinery and irrigation projects, and reminded the good opportunities existing for the two sides’ fresh cooperation in grounds of culture, arts and handicrafts exhibition.