News
Uma Oya project launched (Video / Pics)
President of the Islamic Republic of Iran – Dr. Ebrahim Raisi and Sri Lankan President – Ranil Wickremesinghe have jointly inaugurated the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project (UOMDP) a short while ago.
This project is one of the largest irrigation projects in Sri Lanka following the Mahaweli Development Project.
Speaking at the event, Iran’s President Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi emphasized Iran’s technical prowess and engineering expertise and highlighted that Iranian experts are currently involved in significant electricity and water projects across more than 20 countries.
“Today the Islamic Republic Of Iran, enjoys great technical and engineering skills and expertise, and in more than 20 countries, our experts are running great and big electricity and water projects,” he said.
He further noted that Iran stands ready to share its knowledge, expertise and experience with Sri Lanka for the progress and development of the country, including partnerships in large-scale projects.
Following the inauguration of the Uma Oya multipurpose development project, President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed gratitude to Iran for their technical support, emphasizing that without Iran’s assistance, Sri Lanka couldn’t have diverted the Uma Oya tributaries into Kirindi Oya. He highlighted the south’s desire to establish its identity & independence, suggesting that southern countries should now strive for their own strength and autonomy
(Video / Pics – PMD)
Entertainment
“The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” wins French literary prize
Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka has won the 8th Émile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature for the French translation of his novel “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”.
According to the Sri Lankan Embassy in France, Karunatilaka was awarded the French literary prize by the Guimet Museum on June 05.
“The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida”, was translated from English by Xavier Gros and published in French by Calmann Lévy in 2024.
The president of the Guimet Museum, Yannick Lintz, in a statement, praised the work’s “literary invention of universal dimension” and “the modernity and radicalism of its writing.”
“The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” also won the prestigious Booker Prize in 2022.
Congratulations to #SriLankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka on winning the 8th Emile Guimet Prize for Asian Literature for his novel “The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida” awarded by the Guimet Museum on Thursday 5 June 2025. Karunatilaka’s novel also won the prestigious #BookerPrize in… pic.twitter.com/fs4zjaQ565
— Sri Lanka in France(@SLinFrance) June 9, 2025
