As part of ongoing efforts to expand cooperation between the Cultural Counsellorship of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and regional institutions, Mr Ali Kebriaei Zadeh, Cultural Counsellor of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sri Lanka, met with Dr Kaushalya Kumarasinghe, Director of the SAARC Cultural Centre, on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the shared historical, cultural, and civilizational heritage of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). They also exchanged views on existing opportunities for expanding bilateral and regional cooperation in the fields of culture, the arts, and intercultural exchange, with particular emphasis on initiatives that could promote mutual understanding and strengthen cultural ties among the peoples of the region.At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing areas of mutual cooperation and agreed to continue consultations aimed at enhancing cultural relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the SAARC member states through the framework of the SAARC Cultural Centre.