TEHRAN -- The message of Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga was submitted to President Mohammad Khatami here yesterday.

The message was handed over in a meeting between the president and the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragmar here Thursday.

In the meeting, the president expressed Tehran's readiness to enhance political, economic and cultural ties with Colombo.

He hailed the Lankan statesmen's contribution to peace, security, stability and independence in that country.

Sri Lanka, as a country deserving progress and a decent living, can play an important role on the international scene, said President Khatami, adding that such an important goal can be realized in light of cooperation among the regional states.

He stressed further expansion of cooperation between Iran and Sri Lanka at the international and regional organizations given existence of proper grounds for further expansion of ties.

Kadiragmar, conveying Sri Lankan president's best regards to the president, thanked Iran for its drive to expand ties with his country.