The Hafez Centre for Cultural Understanding (HCCU) of the Pathfinder Foundation and the Governance and Policy Think Tank (GPTT) of the Sharif University of Iran held their inaugural webinar on the theme ‘Iran - Sri Lanka Relations: Ties of the Past, Pointers to the Future held recently.

In Session 1, Professor Rohitha Dassayanke, Head of the Department of History at Peradeniya University, examined the historical context of Sri Lanka’s relations beginning with the Sassanian Empire going as far back as the 2nd Century B.C., which had under its control the Western end of the Silk Road across Central Asia. Sri Lanka had served as an entrepôt point for trade between the Persian empire on the one hand and China and Southeast Asia on the other. 

There is a historical reference to the presence of a Persian ambassador in the Royal Court of Anuradhapura in the 5th century A.D., while documented evidence records that silver Larins or fish-hook coins of Persia are being found in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, a Partho-Sassanian Pitcher is among the material found in Jethavanarama in Anuradhapura. A large quantity of Sassanian-Islamic ceramicware has been discovered in the ancient port of Mantai.

Session 2 focused on contemporary Iran-Sri Lanka ties. Panelists included Amb. Vipulatheja Wishvanath Aponsu, Director General of Economic Affairs (TC) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran, Amb. (Retd.) Abdul-Reza Faraji Rad, a former Iranian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Zameer Careem, Visiting Lecturer in International Relations at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Capt. Qasem Abbasian, Director of Strategic Studies at the Iranian Navy, Amb. (Retd.) M.M. Zuhair, a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran and Dr. Amin Rezaeinejad, Indian Subcontinent Expert, Dr. Ali Salehian, Senior Researcher, International Department, GPTT; and Dr. Hassan Emaei, Senior Researcher, Parliament and Political Studies Department, GPTT. Collectively, they provided insights into the contemporary dynamics of the relationship, emphasizing the significance of historical ties in advancing bilateral interests.

Session 3 focused on future bilateral relations. Panelists noted that the partnership between Sri Lanka and Iran should transcend formal agreements, reflecting centuries of shared experiences. Recent bilateral landmarks include the Tea for Oil agreement, which allowed Sri Lanka to repay its oil debt by exporting Ceylon tea, and the inauguration of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project earlier this year.

Ambassador (retd.) Bernard Goonetilleke, Chairman of Pathfinder Foundation, and Dr. Seyed Emamian, Co-founder and Senior Advisor, Governance and Policy Think Tank (GPTT), made the opening remarks, while Ambassador (retd.) Ahmed A. Jawad, Director of Pathfinder Foundation and Dr. Majid Afshani, Director of International Department, Governance and Policy Think Tank of the Sharif University, summed up the proceedings on behalf of their respective institutions.