Sri Lanka as an all rounder: SUPPORT US/IRAN/and Pakistan

Sri Lanka strongly supports Pakistan
Govt Chief Whip Chaminda Perera and Rasika Somaratne
Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has clearly apprised of Sri Lanka’s stance over the suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth of Nations and this issue has in no way made an impact on Sri Lanka’s relations with Pakistan.
Minister Fernandopulle was speaking at a press briefing on the current situation in the country at the Information Department yesterday.
He conveyed Sri Lanka’s strong protest against the Commonwealth’s resolution to suspend Pakistan from the Movement. The Prime Minster also informed Parliament on the Government’s stance over this issue on Monday.
“I don’t think Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama had done anything contrary to Sri Lanka’s foreign policy. He had discussed this issue at the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting for over 10 hours.
Only Sri Lanka and Malaysia have opposed this move. The Cabinet of Ministers unanimously stood up for Pakistan and its decision was conveyed to the President too.
Pakistan has helped us tremendously when the country was in distress. She came forward to supply rice to Sri Lanka”, he said.

Lanka for Iran’s nuclear right
In comments that are likely not to find favour with the US, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a meeting with the Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Teheran on Monday said that his country supported Iran's inalienable right to use nuclear energy, the Iranian IRNA news agency reported.
According to the Iran Foreign Ministry Media Department in a meeting with the visiting Sri Lankan President, Mottaki presented a report on the latest situation of Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, active cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA) and (IAEA Chief) ElBaradei's report to the IAEA Governing Council.
Referring to the level of bilateral ties, Mottaki said, "Iran is interested to expand ties with Sri Lanka in all fields and the visit is a new chapter in mutual relations." The foreign minister added, "President Ahmadinejad has already ordered the implementation of the signed agreements between the two countries." Mottaki expressed Iran's readiness to cooperate in constructing power plants, refineries, irrigation projects and exporting engineering and technical services to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa briefed Mottaki on the situation of Sri Lankan Muslims and said, "Muslims in Sri Lanka enjoy a good position, and have an active role in the country's politico-social life."He also called for the implementation of a number of agreements previously signed between the two countries.

Iran gives Lanka $1.5 bn dollars aid
COLOMBO, Nov 28, 2007 (AFP) -Sri Lanka's president secured 1.5 billion dollars worth of financial aid from Iran for infrastructure projects while on a three-day visit to the country, his office said on Wednesday.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa concluded his trip to Iran on Tuesday by signing eight memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with his Iranian counterpart for a range of projects including expanding an oil refinery and irrigation.
“Iran donated a massive sum of 1.5 billion dollars in financial assistance, with the two countries signing an MoU to develop programmes of oil refineries and irrigation projects in Sri Lanka,” the president's office said Wednesday. Iran supplies 70 percent of Sri Lanka's light crude requirements.
Sri Lanka plans to triple the capacity of its sole oil refinery to 150,000 barrels per day from 50,000 barrels per day. Iran has allocated 700 million dollars out of the bilateral financial package to upgrade the facility, the statement said. “Implementation of the agreements would help boost bilateral co-operation,” Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying in the statement issued jointly by the two countries.

S.Lanka borrows $1.5 bln from Iran for infrastructure
Reuters - Thursday, November 29On Nov. 16,
It borrowed 50 million British pounds ($104 million) - COLOMBO, Nov 28 - Sri Lanka has borrowed $1.5 billion from Iran to fund infrastructure projects, including an expansion of the island's only oil refinery, officials said on Wednesday.
The funds will also be used to finance housing, power and irrigation projects.
The $1.5 billion loan was signed in Tehran, where a Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa held talks with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"We have signed eight MOU's. We will get a total of about $1.5 billion," said Chandrapala Liyanage, the president's media director said.
He said $700 million would be used to expand the 50,000 barrels per day Sapugaskanda oil refinery while $450 million would be used for agricultural and irrigation projects.
Chandrapala did not elaborate or detail the terms of the credit, other than to say that the oil loan has to be repaid in 10 years.
The government plans to triple the refinery's output to 150,000 barrels per day.
Infrastructure work has often been a low priority in Sri Lanka because of a civil war between the state and Tamil Tiger rebels that has killed more than 70,000 people since 1983.
The loan marks the latest in a flurry of fund raising by Sri Lanka.
On Nov. 16, it borrowed 50 million British pounds ($104 million) from the British government to reconstruct 222 bridges and build two fly-overs around Colombo.
On Oct. 24, the central bank sold $500 million in 5-year sovereign bonds with a coupon of 8.25 percent.