The Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sri Lanka hosted a commemorative ceremony on Thursday, May 21, 2026, marking the second anniversary of the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, the late President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Dr. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the late Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran.The event, held in Colombo, was attended by a large number of political, cultural, academic, and media figures, as well as friends and supporters of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sri Lanka.

The ceremony began with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Mr. Shahini, a representative of the Cultural Center, welcomed the guests and paid tribute to the memory of the “Martyrs of Service.”In his address, Dr. Alireza Delkhosh, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Sri Lanka, referred to the longstanding and friendly relations between Iran and Sri Lanka. He described the late President Raisi’s visit to Sri Lanka as an important milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry also expressed his condolences to the government and people of Iran. He remembered Ayatollah Raisi as a humble, ethical, and people-oriented leader. Referring to the friendly relations between the two nations, he expressed appreciation for Iran’s support for Sri Lanka, particularly in the implementation of the Uma Oya project, and emphasized the importance of cooperation, mutual respect, and regional peace. Mr. Sabry also highlighted the noble status of martyrs by referring to a verse from Surah Al-Imran.

Sri Lankan researcher, journalist, and political analyst Shiran Ilanperuma also spoke during the event. Referring to the late President Raisi’s visit to Sri Lanka, he described him as a sincere friend of the Sri Lankan people. He cited the Uma Oya project as a successful example of constructive cooperation between the two countries and emphasized the role of infrastructure projects in economic development and national independence. He further noted that President Raisi strongly supported economic resilience and national self-sufficiency, stressing the importance of strengthening domestic capacities in the face of external pressures.

The ceremony received extensive coverage from Sri Lankan media organizations, with a broad presence of journalists and significant press and television coverage across the country.