On 17 June 2026, corresponding to 27 Khordad 1405 in the Iranian calendar, an official meeting was held between Mr. Ali Kebriaie-Zadeh, Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Dr. Ayesha Wikrama Singhe, Chairperson of the National Crafts Council of Sri Lanka, during which the two sides exchanged views on capacities and areas of cooperation in the field of handicrafts.

At the outset of the meeting, the Chairperson of the National Crafts Council of Sri Lanka presented a report outlining the missions, functions, and programmes of the institution. Dr. Ayesha Wikrama Singhe stated that the Council, as an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Industry of Sri Lanka, is responsible for policymaking, support, and development of the handicrafts sector at the national level.

She explained that the Council operates through an extensive network of branches across all nine provinces of the country and is active in 31 specialized fields and 67 sub-sectors related to handicrafts. The institution plays a key role in empowering artisans, creating sustainable employment opportunities, and preserving the country's cultural heritage.For his part, the Cultural Counselor of the Islamic Republic of Iran presented a comprehensive overview of Iran's handicrafts sector, highlighting the country's exceptional diversity of artistic disciplines, its rich historical heritage, and the significance of handicrafts within the cultural economy.

He described handicrafts not merely as an economic activity, but as one of the fundamental components of national identity and an effective instrument of cultural diplomacy, emphasizing the importance of utilizing this potential to expand cooperation with Sri Lanka.

During the main discussions, the two sides reviewed areas of common interest and stressed the need to design and implement practical cooperative programmes. The principal areas of agreement included:

- Organizing joint Iranian-Sri Lankan handicrafts exhibitions to showcase the artistic capacities of both countries;- Encouraging reciprocal participation in seminars and specialized meetings related to handicrafts in Iran and Sri Lanka;- Holding training workshops and facilitating the exchange of experiences between artists and experts from both countries.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Iranian delegation visited the Sri Lanka Handicrafts Museum. The visit provided an opportunity to gain closer insight into Sri Lanka's artistic capabilities in the handicrafts sector and underscored the importance of handicrafts as an expression of cultural identity and an effective means of promoting intercultural dialogue.The meeting may be regarded as a strategic step towards strengthening cultural diplomacy, expanding artistic interactions, and creating sustainable frameworks for cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Sri Lanka in the field of handicrafts. With systematic follow-up, this initiative has the potential to pave the way for long-term and structured cooperation between the two countries.