By: Eastern Eye
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi inaugurated a hydropower project in Sri Lanka’s southeastern region, costing £410 million. The project called the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP), was partly funded by Iran and faced delays due to international sanctions on Iran. This marks the first visit by an Iranian president to Sri Lanka since 2008.
The project, implemented by the Farab Energy and Water Projects (Farab Company) of Iran, received an initial funding of £39 million from Iran in April 2008. However, due to international sanctions imposed on Iran in 2013, Tehran was unable to continue funding the project. Sri Lanka proceeded with the project using government funds while maintaining the same contractor.
During the inauguration, Raisi said Tehran was happy to assist the Una Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP) to forge closer ties between the people of Iran and Sri Lanka. Iranian engineer worked on the project to see its success.
According to a press release issued by the Sri Lankan government, the UMODP project, costing £410 million, was kicked off with £39 million provided by Iran. The Sri Lankan government and Farab Energy and Water Projects (Farab Company) of Iran agreed in April 2008 to implement the project. The total contract sum amounted to £410 million, and the Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI) funded £39 million until 2013.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe thanked Iran for its technical support and promoted the joint progress between the two countries as members of the Global South. The UOMDP project is expected to add 290 GWh to the national grid, supply water to 4,500 hectares of new agricultural land, and meet the drinking water needs of thousands of families in Badulla, Monaragala, and Hambantota districts.
