While welcoming the United States decision to waive restrictions on Sri Lanka, the Government said today it would hold talks with the Iranian government to resume development programmes to be launched with Iranian aid.

“The Government welcomes the recent statement by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that Sri Lanka has been exempted from banking sanctions that affect oil imports from Iran,” International Monetary Cooperation Senior Minister Sarath Amunugama said.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and President Mahinda Rajapaksa signed several MOUs to provide financial assistance to a number of development projects in Sri Lanka including the Uma Oya project and assistance to Sapugaskanda Oil refinery were put on hold after US embargo on Iran imposed in December 2011.(Sandun A. Jayasekera)