TEHRAN -- Visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar conferred here on Wednesday with Majlis Speaker Mahdi Karrubi on issues of mutual interests.

At the meeting, Karrubi referred to the record of the Majlis in the Islamic Republic of Iran and highlighted the role of parliaments in strengthening relations among governments and forging further convergence among world nations. He declared Iran's readiness to expand parliamentary ties with Sri Lanka.

Karrubi called the new century as the century which is dominated by logic and dialogue among countries. The idea behind dialogue among civilizations stems from avoiding deployment of armaments and bloodshed.'' He expressed hope that existing crisis in Sri Lanka would end peacefully.

The Sri Lanka minister, for his part, referred to the existence of patriarchal systems as well as democratic parliaments both in Iran and Sri Lanka and described them as a link between the two countries.

He called for further cooperation between the two parliaments and exchange of parliamentary delegations.

At the meeting, the Iranian Majlis speaker officially invited his Lankan counterpart to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi here Wednesday called for more facilities to be put at the disposal of Iranian private sector for implementation of various industrial and agricultural projects in Sri Lanka.

Kharrazi told visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar that Iran is ready to serve as entrance gate to Central Asia and help in expansion of cooperation between that country and the Central Asian states.

He said interest of both Iran and Sri Lanka in establishment of peace and stability in the region provides for exchange of views, forging relations among regional organizations and strengthening economic development and stability in south Asia and the Persian Gulf.

Kadiragamar said for his part that his country is interested in promoting ties and cooperation with Iran.

He hoped that bilateral economic and commercial cooperation would further expand given the agreements reached in the recent session of Tehran-Colombo Joint Economic Commission.

(IRNA)