Lanka, Iran ink pacts in diverse areas

Iran and Sri Lanka yesterday signed several agreements in varied areas to boost bilateral relations, Tasnim news agency reported.The agreements were signed in a ceremony in Tehran attended by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his Sri Lankan counterpart Maithripala Sirisena.The agreements include health and medical sciences, standardisation, education, laboratory services, film industry and fight against illicit drugs.Yesterday, Sirisena also urged promotion of ties with the Islamic republic and a boost in oil import from Iran, official IRNA agency reported.“Economic and trade relations between the two countries will increase,” he said, calling for establishment of direct flights between Iran and Sri Lanka to facilitate bilateral trade exchanges.He also invited Iranian private sectors to invest in Sri Lanka, and stated that his country has incentives for foreign investors, including those of Iran.Sirisena arrived in Tehran yesterday at the invitation of Rouhani for a two-day official visit.