“Corruption Undermines Good Governance.” Believes Mr. Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid

Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid has been practicing law for over forty two years. He practiced mostly in the Court of Appeal and in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka and has appeared in many Civil and Human Rights cases. Additionally, he served as Chairman of National Enterprise Development Authority, Intellectual Property Advisory Commission, National Institute of Cooperative Development and Consumer Affairs Council. He was appointed as High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Pakistan in 2018 and served there for two years. Now the government of Sri Lanka has designated him as the Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Iran. In order to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the political and economic relations between the two countries, we conducted an interview with him. In the following, you can read the full interview.

AVA Diplomatic’s Exclusive Interview with Mr. Noordeen Mohamed Shaheid,

Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Iran

What positions and responsibilities did you hold before being appointed as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iran?

I am a lawyer by profession. I have been practicing law for the last forty two years. In Sri Lanka, I practiced mostly in the Court of Appeal and in the Supreme Court. I have appeared in many Civil and Human Rights cases. Further I have also served as Chairman, Director/Member in State Sector institutions and Corporations. I have served as Chairman of National Enterprise Development Authority, Intellectual Property Advisory Commission, National Institute of Cooperative Development and Consumer Affairs Council are a few to be mentioned. I was appointed as a member of the Human Rights Taskforce when I was a young Attorney. I also have served as a Member/Director of South Eastern University Council, Central Environmental Authority and Sri Lanka Ports Authority etc.,

I was appointed as High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Pakistan in 2018. I served there for two years.

Now the government of Sri Lanka has designated me as the Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Iran. So I am here to strengthen the relationship between Sri Lanka and Iran and enhance co-operation, integration, harmony and unity between the two countries. I am keen to promote bilateral trade and cultural ties between the two countries and also wish to look for fresh avenues for collaboration in a very strong manner where Iran can invest extensively in Sri Lanka.

Recently, His Excellency Ebrahim Raisi, the former President of Iran visited Sri Lanka on April 24, 2024, just a few days before his unfortunate demise. He visited Sri Lanka to inaugurate the Uma Oya Project which was funded by the Government of Iran. It was commenced in 2006 but due to some unavoidable circumstances there was a delay in completing it. Somehow the Iranian government wanted to see that project is completed. Sri Lanka is benefited by this Project immensely specially in the fields of irrigation and generation of Power and Electricity. So, I think that we have to engage in new areas for diverse cooperation and collaboration. The positive aspect that I could see here is the readiness of the Government of Iran to help Sri Lanka. I can remember in 1969, the Sapugaskanda oil refinery in Sri Lanka was built with the assistance of Iran. This refinery needs to be upgraded and the existing operational challenges and the infrastructure facilities have to be urgently addressed. It is my humble view that there is a necessity for a critical investment to modernize and upgrade the refinery to ensure its operational efficiency and viability. It is my intension to seek the assistance of the Government of Iran to modernize and upgrade the said oil refinery which would help Sri Lanka immensely to strengthen its economic capacity.

What was the purpose of forming the Human Rights Taskforce that you mentioned and how did it deal with the violation of the fundamental rights of Sri Lankan citizens?

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga established “Sri Lanka Human Rights Taskforce” during her tenure to ensure the Right issues of Sri Lankan people and address them effectively through proper channel. This institution specifically addressed issues such as arbitrary arrest, freedom from torture, freedom from speech and other fundamental Rights. The idea behind was to provide an opportunity to the people to address any violation of their basic rights by the authorities. So I was nominated to the said task force and I served there for about three years. Afterwards, Human Rights Taskforce was converted into Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka by an Act of Parliament. The Commission enjoyed more power to deal with the rights of the people. As a lawyer, I would say that was a progressive step. Further, in our Constitution there is a chapter for fundamental rights which deals with freedom of speech, freedom from torture, right to equality, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, etc. So, if any one feels that his fundamental rights are violated, he can go to that Supreme Court which is the Apex court in our country and file an application to assert his rights. For instance, you are working in a government institution and you are an experienced and qualified person and you are eligible for an appointment or promotion but somebody on top wants to avoid you from being appointed or promoted and another person who is less qualified and less suitable than you is to be appointed, you can go to the Supreme Court within one month and assert your right on the ground of discrimination.

As the ambassador of Sri Lanka to Iran, Which of the political, cultural or economic fields will be your most important priority? And what plans do you have to reach this goal?

I am not a career diplomat. I was chosen to be an Ambassador to Iran by the government based on a performance assessment of my work as High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Pakistan. I think the government wanted me to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries and efficiently implement the bilateral agreements signed between the two countries during the visit of the former President of Iran, the late Ibrahim Raisi to Sri Lanka. Some of those agreements relate to culture, journalism and trade.

Sri Lanka owed a total of $ 250 million in oil debt to Iran. Sri Lanka could not settle that debt due to sanctions. Now the said debt is being settled in the form of tea. The Sri Lanka /Iran oil for tea swap deal was signed in late 2021. So far $ 50 million worth of tea has been exported to Iran, under the said barter trade agreement. The deal is that Sri Lanka would send Iran $5 million in tea every month for 48 months. I want to go beyond just sending only tea. A lot of Sri Lankans have told me that there are many business opportunities in Iran. For example they want to import fertilizer and pharmaceuticals items from Iran. Also Sri Lanka wants to increase its exports to Iran with its local produce such as spices, garments, cashews, desiccated coconut, precious stones, articles of apparels, re-treated rubber tyre and tubes etc. Sri Lanka exports to Iran have decreased by 50% in 2023 when compared to year 2022. I also want to promote educational diplomacy between the two nations. I know that Iranian government has offered some scholarships to Sri Lankan students enabling them to come and study in some universities in Iran. This is a very good move. When I looked at the standards of the Iranian universities I find the standard is very high according to international ranking. Some of the medical scholarships that have been offered to Sri Lankan students this time could not be utilized, due to fear whether the Medical Degree will be recognized in Sri Lanka. When I was in Pakistan, we had a similar program and the graduates qualified from Pakistan Universities performed very well in the qualifying exams held in Sri Lanka. I want to promote that kind of relationship and environment where students can come and study and also learn the culture of Iranian people, their life style and magnanimous hospitality. I will endeavor to remove the negative perception about Iran which is absolutely untrue and baseless. I know for a fact, a similar kind of negative perception existed about Pakistan as well when I served there as a diplomat, but I found such perceptions were fake and without foundation. It is a country with a beautiful culture and the people are so kind and hospitable and the standard of education is also comparatively high. It must be highlighted to the World.

While congratulating on the election of a new president in Sri Lanka, what effect can the election of a neo-Marxist as the president have on the relations between Iran and Sri Lanka?

Millions of Sri Lankans have voted for the new President at the recent Presidential elections placing faith in his economic policies and different political culture. He has pledged to dedicate himself to protect and uphold democracy, good governance and rule of law. The new President with a left wing ideological background never denied the continuity of Sri Lanka’s democratic parliamentary traditions or its open economy with competitive free market. The amount of congratulatory messages that he has received from the international community and world leaders indicate that his election has been widely appreciated and acclaimed.

He has been a Member of Parliament from the year 2000. So, he knew the political landscape of Sri Lanka. We are a non-aligned country and we do not take any sides in international politics. The geopolitical situations may sometimes affect the policy of non-alignment but the government will definitely pursue the interest of Sri Lanka and its people. I am sure that this government will take some strong decisions to build friendship with other countries. The obstacles, if any, will be removed and I hope the new government will introduce a new political culture which we have not seen in our country before. I hope this new political culture will be widely accepted by the international community.

Despite the concerns expressed by the West, Sri Lanka has always interacted with Iran. High profile visits of the former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmednijad in 2008 and the recent visit of the Dr. Ibrahim Raisi is a reminder of the strong bond both countries have forged over the years since diplomatic relations were established in 1961. I am confident that the relationship between the two nations will flourish much stronger in future. The co-operation agreements signed in recent times will further cement commercial, economic, scientific, cultural and military co-operation at the bilateral level and will ensure Sri Lanka and Iran’s economic and strategic partnership at regional level in years to come.

Will the fight against corruption, as promised by the new president of Sri Lanka, be pursued decisively and effectively?

Corruption is one of the greatest challenges facing the contemporary world. It undermines good governance, distorts public policy and harms the public and private sector and development.

Corruption in Sri Lanka is considered as an ongoing serious national issue which has dampened economic growth and lowered quality of life for most Sri Lankans. Successive governments have often pledged to eradicate corruption but practically speaking this has been an impossible task due to years of mismanagement. Our new President has throughout his political career campaigned against corruption and promised the people of Sri Lanka good governance and tough anti-corruption measures. I am sure he would efficiently pursue his new political culture, free from corruption and cronyism.

Some analysts believe the officials’ inattention to the working class has reinforced the tendency towards neo-Marxism in the society. Putting this fact into consideration, what effect will the election of the new president have on the status and demands of the working class? Also, does the new government intend to adopt a new approach to foreign investment in the country?

In 2019, under the new President’s leadership, the National People’s Power Alliance (NPP) was formed as a socialist alliance with several other organizations. The NPP adopted a center – left, social democratic platform aiming to attract broader support. Despite these efforts, the NPP garnered only 3% of the vote in the 2019 Presidential election, but the political landscape shifted dramatically during economic crises of 2022. Many Sri Lankans, frustrated with the two traditional parties that had governed the country for over seven decades, turned to the NPP, seeing it as a credible alternative.

His party believes prosperity should be measured not just by economic growth but by the overall quality of life. He believes that people need more than just basic necessities- they require secure housing, food, healthcare, education, access to technology and leisure. President’s long term vision is to transform Sri Lanka into a production based economy which would provide the working class to engage in the development of national economy effectively and profitably to achieve the pro-poor and bigger welfare policies of the government.

With regard to your second question, may I say that although President Dissanayaka has been critical of some of the policy recommendations of the IMF, he has acknowledged the need to stay within the IMF program for now, given the severity of country’s economic crisis. However, he has vowed to renegotiate certain details, particularly regarding the austerity measures with the IMF to make the program more “people friendly”. He does not want to jeopardize the country’s economic stability by deviating from agreements relating to debt restructuring and bond holder rights. His strategy is to renegotiate with international lenders to rebuild the island’s economy without causing severe hardships for low income Sri Lankans.

From your point of view, what factors have caused Sri Lanka to become one of the top tourist destinations for Iranians?

I think Sri Lanka has been considered as one of the best tourist destinations in the world for a number of reasons including its diverse attractions, natural beauty and unique culture. It is also known for its stunning natural landscapes, pristine beaches and diverse wildlife and abundance of precious gem stones. It is a colorful country full of rich history, culture and natural resources. Sri Lanka has a rich cultural heritage too. That is why Sri Lanka is often called the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”. Above all, Sri Lanka is known for its affordable prices and friendly people.

Tourists who visit Sri Lanka never stop with one visit. They always bring their families and friends and promote Sri Lanka because travelling to Sri Lanka is relatively economical compared to other destinations. The cost of living, accommodations and sightseeing in Sri Lanka are generally affordable and budget friendly.

How many Iranian tourists visited Sri Lanka last year? Are there chartered flights between Iran and Sri Lanka?

I am not quite sure of the exact number of Iranian tourists who visited Sri Lanka, but I am certain that at least five hundred to six hundred Iranians visit Sri Lanka every month. Sri Lanka has announced her new initiative to boost its tourism sector by offering free 30 days tourist visa to visitors from over 30 countries including Iran. This move is part of Sri Lanka’s broadest strategy to re-vitalize its economy by encouraging a surge in tourism.

With regard to charter flights Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian Airline, is now permitted to fly between Iran and Sri Lanka. The airlines arrival in Sri Lanka is expected to increase tourism from Iran and strengthen Aviation cooperation between the two countries. In 2022, Iran ranked 27^th among countries with the highest international tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka experiencing notable growth every year.

Is it a possibility to buy crude oil directly from Iran and to renovate the existing refineries in Sri Lanka in order to cut down the price of energy and consumer goods in the country?

As I told you earlier, my priority is to enhance bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Iran by activating the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation. I trust fresh avenues for collaboration could be identified specially in the economic field, such as energy, trade and collaboration between public and private sector agencies.

The Sapugaskanda oil Refinery is the single largest oil refinery of Sri Lanka. The refinery was built in 1969 under the assistance of Iran, was configured to run on Iranian crude oil. Now it is more than 50 years old but it requires critical investment to upgrade and modernize the refinery’s aging infrastructure in order to ensure operational efficiencies. It is my intention to seek the assistance of the government of Iran to undertake a study and research of the current condition of the refinery and become a strategic investment partner to upgrade the infrastructure facilities of the said refinery to address the existing operational challenges. If the refinery could be brought to its maximum efficiency, the oil price in Sri Lanka could be reduced to a great extent and thereby the government can bring down the cost of living. It will benefit our country immensely and strengthen the bilateral relationship of both the countries.

Are there any concerns in Sri Lanka about probable sanctions against the country if it continues to import oil from Iran?

We have been immensely affected by the sanctions imposed on Iran. We cannot import oil directly. I fervently hope that the new government would evolve a new strategy to import oil from Iran directly to help its people. Oil price in a country plays a pivotal role in deciding the prices of commodities. If we could import oil from Iran directly, it would be a great advantage for us to shape our economy. We are a founder member of Non Aligned Movement. We cannot afford to take sides in geo-politics. We are everyone’s friend and nobody’s enemy. That is our foreign policy.

Is there a barter agreement between the two countries now?

Yes, Sri Lanka had to pay $ 251 million by way of oil debts to Iran when the sanction was imposed on Iran. Sri Lanka is one of the major tea exporters to Iran. Because of the sanction Sri Lanka found it difficult to pay the debt. As a possible settlement amidst US led sanctions, Iran agreed to off-set payment for crude oil against tea imports from Sri Lanka. Now the tea for oil deal was agreed upon in 2021. It allows Sri Lanka to pay the debt with tea exports. So far $ 50 million worth of tea has been exported to Iran under the barter trade agreement. Beginning last year, we initiated payment in monthly installments of $ 5million. This initiative directly supports our tea industry.

What factors make bilateral agreements between Iran and Sri Lanka important? What role does culture play in strengthening these relations?

As you know, bilateral engagements are a kind of economic agreements such as free trade agreements or foreign direct investment to enhance the relationship between countries. Iran and Sri Lanka signed five memorandum of understanding aimed at bolstering bilateral relationship between the two nations during the visit of late President of Iran, His Excellency Dr. Ibrahim Raisi to Sri Lanka in April 2024. The MOU’s will cover the following areas of cooperation.

• MOU on combatting illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs
• MOU on cinema and television
• MOU on standardization, metrology and training
• MOU on program of cultural, scientific and technical cooperation
• MOU on health, medical science, pharmaceutical and medical equipment

Historically both countries maintain robust cooperation across various sectors and engage in multilateral endeavors.

It is important to note that the leaders of both countries during their discussion, delved into key areas of mutual interest, emphasizing their need to bolster economic and trade ties while fostering political and cultural cooperation.

When was the last meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation of the two countries held and what was its agenda? Has the time of the next commission been determined?

The Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) between Sri Lanka and Iran was signed in 1987. The Joint Commission was formed with the objective of further enhancing trade, culture, education and social relations between the two countries. The 11^th meeting of the Joint Commission was held in Colombo in February 2016. The follow-up meeting of the 11^th session of the Joint Commission was held in February 2018. The next JCEC meeting should be held in Tehran.

Which of the ratifications of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation of the two countries have not yet been implemented?

Sri Lanka and Iran agreed to strengthen consular relations and activate the Joint Economic Commission between the two countries. Exchange, release and/or transfer of Iranian and Sri Lankan prisoners was one of the key decisions taken at the consular level. The implementation of this agreement has not yet begun. Very soon steps will be taken to implement this program.

What was the volume of trade between the two countries last year? What perspective do you envision for the future of economic relations between Iran and Sri Lanka?

As soon as I came here, I focused on the bilateral trade engagements between the two countries and I found total export value from Sri Lanka to Iran was $ 43 million in 2023 and total imports from Iran to Sri Lanka for the same period were $ 6.7 million. In 2022, Sri Lanka exported to the value of $ 86.1 million to Iran. The main products exported were tea, coconut, Brazil nuts, cashews and other vegetable fibers. In the same year, Iran exported to Sri Lanka to the value of $ 5.13 million. The main products exported from Iran to Sri Lanka were dried fish, salted smoked fish or in brine, non-fillet frozen fish and iron fasteners.

I intend to create a favorable environment and conditions for the development of mutual trade and economic relations for the promotion of economic cooperation between the two countries in the liberalization of trade and establish a business dialogue for investment between Kish Island free zone and Chabahar free zone of Iran and the Port City of Colombo, which is a multi-services economic zone.

What capacities do the two countries of Iran and Sri Lanka have in scientific and educational fields?

It is one of my priorities to promote educational cooperation between Sri Lanka and Iran. I have come to know that the Iranian Government has agreed to provide scholarships for Sri Lankan students to pursue their degree program in leading universities in Iran. I trust that it is a very good move. I have become aware that Iran scientists have been very productive in several experimental fields such as pharmacology/toxicology, chemistry, physics and computer engineering, etc. I intend exploring fresh avenues for collaboration in the field of science and technology between the two nations.

What potentials are there to export pharmaceutical products from Iran to Sri Lanka and what negotiations have been conducted in this regard?

After I assumed duties, I took part in two international exhibitions. One was related to machineries and equipment’s and the other was related to pharmaceutical products in terms of manufacturing, marketing and distribution. I think there is a large and lucrative market in Iran for Sri Lanka to consider imports in terms of medicine and pharmaceutical products. In the past three decades, Iran health sector has achieved considerable success. Iran pharmaceutical market shows that the market has been drastically grown in the recent decade. Iran pharmaceutical market has a good potential for expansion in the light of sanctions being taken off on food and medicine. Some Sri Lankan traders in the pharmaceutical trade have requested me to promote bilateral engagements in the field of high tech medicine and pharmaceutical products. In the context of sanctions being removed on pharmaceutical items, I would see whether the import of pharmaceutical products and medicines could be included under the barter agreement that exists between Sri Lanka and Iran.

What is the viewpoint of the government of Sri Lanka about the recent developments in the Middle East region and Hamas-Israel War?

It is unfortunate what is happening in the Middle East, especially between Israel and Palestine. Sri Lanka has always supported Palestine. Successive governments have even closed the Israel embassy in Sri Lanka. Mr. Bimal Ratnayaka, a leading member of the present government is the President of Sri Lanka –Palestine Friendship Association. Former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa had been an ardent supporter of Palestinian cause and in appreciation of his support a road was named after him in Ramallah as “Mahinda Rajapaksa Road”. Sri Lanka has always stood with the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.

Has Sri Lanka recognized the independent state of Palestine?

We have recognized Palestine as a state in 1988. Sri Lanka has consistently supported the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and their right to an independent sovereign state based on the relevant UN Resolution. Sri Lanka currently supports a two – state solution to the on-going Israel- Palestine conflict. Sri Lanka has voted in support of Palestine in almost every resolution brought in the UN.

With the new president of Sri Lanka coming into office, will we see the strengthening of ties between this country and Russia?

Well, it is too early for me to comment, but of course the policy of the present government is people oriented. His victory is historic not only for Sri Lanka’s domestic politics but also for its international relations. The new President plans to tackle the country’s economic and financial challenges as his top priority. He campaigned on the need to eradicate corruption and address issues relating to austerity and trade. He will certainly work with the IMF and other partners to continue the process of stabilizing Sri Lanka’s economy. Sri Lanka is a founder member of Non Aligned Movement and our new President will maintain cordial relationship with the global community, with malice towards none.

What is the Sri Lankan government’s view on the assassination of Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Lebanon’s Hezbollah?

As far as I am concerned, Sri Lanka would support any decision by the United Nations in terms of International law.

At the end of the interview, if there is anything left unsaid, please feel free to express.

Despite negative perception about Iran in the international sphere, positive measures should be taken to bring out the good side of Iran that it is a great nation with rich history and interesting culture. It is the oldest civilized nation in the world. Iranians are known for their warm and genuine hospitality. It is one of the best destinations for tourism as well.

I am impressed by the Iranians whom I have come to know and met during this short period. Many of them are well educated people with a great understanding. I could see a huge development in the country despite sanction. I don’t think sanction has suppressed or discouraged the determination of the will power of the people.

I am really happy to be a diplomat in Iran.