Mr. Zia ul-Hassan, a Sri Lankan media activist and radio broadcaster, met and held talks with Mr. Kebreaei-Zadeh at the Cultural Counseling Office of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran on Monday, December 14.

During the meeting, Mr. Zia ul-Hassan referred to the strong interest of the Sri Lankan people in Iran and noted that countries such as the United States, Israel, and India are more actively focused on engaging the younger generation in Sri Lanka. He added that while a significant part of this attention is driven by Sri Lanka’s strategic position, Iran’s interest in Sri Lanka is not instrumental in nature. “We are genuinely interested in Iran as well,” he said, emphasizing that the media provides an important opportunity to properly highlight Iran’s capacities and potentials.

As an example, he pointed to the strong popularity of Iranian films among Sri Lankan audiences, stating that cinematic cooperation and the screening of Iranian films could play a major role in strengthening Iran’s cultural presence in Sri Lanka.

Mr. Kebreaei-Zadeh, for his part, described the shared interests between Iran and Sri Lanka as a valuable opportunity for expanding cultural cooperation. He noted that Sri Lanka, with its ancient history and exemplary coexistence of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, along with its rich ritual traditions, arts, and warm-hearted, open-minded people, shares deep affinities with Iran—a country endowed with mythological heritage, world-renowned literature, and a rich historical experience in Asia.

He added that the Sri Lankan people’s enthusiasm for Iranian cinema essentially reflects their interest in Iranian traditions, customs, and intellectual heritage, which have emerged from centuries of exchanges and interactions between the two nations. The Cultural Counselor then outlined a framework for further cooperation and highlighted several areas that could serve as a basis for joint initiatives. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to pursue a structured and regular program aimed at introducing Iran more effectively.