Hawzah News Agency –In a message to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ayatollah Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi congratulated Sri Lanka on the anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence, expressing hope that, "In line with the existing political will between the leaders of the two countries, friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries in various fields and in the mutual interests of the two nations will expand".

The President's message is as follows:

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Your Excellency Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa,

Honourable President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,

I would like to offer my sincerest congratulations to Your Excellency and the people of your country on the independence anniversary and the national day of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

I hope that in line with the existing political will between the leaders of the two countries, friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries in various fields and in the mutual interests of the two nations will expand.

I wish Your Excellency health and success, and the people of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka prosperity and felicity.

Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran