“Iran Seems More Like a Western Country,” States Sri Lanka’s Ambassador.

A congenial, friendly man whose warm, intimate heart has enabled him to do his fair share to extend the cultural ties between Iran and Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador has brought two elephants to Iran to show his good will. He has been in Tehran since 2012, and hopes for the economic relations between the two countries to enter a new phase once the joint economic commission of Iran-Sri Lanka becomes activated. To delve deeper in terms of the ins and outs of the expansion of economic and cultural ties between the two countries, we held an interview with Mohammed Faizal Razeen, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Tehran.

AVA Diplomatic’s Exclusive Interview with Mohammed Faizal Razeen, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador

Interview by Mohammadreza Nazari

Where had you served before coming to Iran?

This is my first mission as ambassador, and I used to be a criminal judge before coming here.

Then, it means I’m now talking to a diplomat who studied law and served in Sri Lanka’s Judicial System.

In fact, I studied law when at college and continued it at the university, too.

Which country has influenced the law the most in Sri Lanka?

The United Kingdom.

Is Sri Lanka’s Judicial System formed based on that of the United Kingdom?

Yeah, for the most part.

Was it because Sri Lanka was a colony of the United Kingdom?

Well, that has been a determining factor, yes.

So, why did you not go to the U.K. to study law?

I was more interested in educating in our own village. My father and seven brothers of mine were judges. If you conduct a research on a worldwide basis, you will see that our family owns the highest number of judges and legal experts.

You said seven of your brothers; how many members is your family consisted of? Are Sri Lankan families very populous?

My family is consisted of 10 members. Since the previous generations, our family has always had 7 to 10 members the majority of whom are Muslim.

As much as I’m informed, Buddhists form the majority of Sri Lanka’s population and the rest are Muslims and Tamils. Is that right?

It is, because our country is a Buddhist country.

Are you Muslim?

I am.

Is it normally easy for a Muslim to become a judge?

Of course. Almost 75% of our country’s population is Buddhist and the rest are Muslims and Tamils, and whoever continues their education to high degrees can achieve high-end positions.

It really interests me to know that should an individual, like yourself, intend to possess a top position in Sri Lanka’s Judicial System, what stages he should go through.

I could remain a judge for 25 years, because I was a law expert. But the routine is that there are 5 different courts in Sri Lanka to enter which you should pass certain phases. As a judge, I was in charge of 5 institutes and organizations, and worked in the Commission of Human Rights. It all depends on the experience, positions and your opportunities.

You need to know that, as a legal expert, I can be a criminal judge or the head of any other institute or organization. I even serve as an ambassador, and that is the freedom there is in our country.

Who does hold the most supreme judicial position in Sri Lanka?

The Head of the Judicial System.

And who does appoint him?

The President.

Isn’t there any power separation in this case?

In our country, the Judicial and Executive Powers are both of the same position.

But it really breaks the balance when the President appoints the Head of the Department of Justice…

The President is sworn in by the Head of the Judiciary and elected by people.

How can the Head of the Judiciary keep his independence when the President chooses him?

That is a pretty sensitive matter right there. True that the President holds much power, but that really does not mean that the Head of the Judiciary owns much less power. This matter had recently gone on the headlines in Sri Lanka.

Why does the Parliament not appoint the Head of the Judiciary?

Because the system is British in our country! That is a very important matter which came up recently as whether the President is in a more supreme position or the Head of the Judiciary. It turned to a national concern! Even once the President ousted the Head of the Judiciary and told him to go home. Resultantly, the appointment of the Head of the Judiciary is a sensitive matter, for, as you pointed out, the separation between the powers does not exists the way you pictured.

Some other countries also have such power separation problems which eventually leads to coup de tat. I hope Sri Lanka never ends up witnessing one.

There is not any problem as such.

There are groups such as Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, though.

Not even one of those Tamil Tigers exists now in Sri Lanka.

Have all the rebels of Tamil Tigers died?

What I can say in this regard is that now, we have no problem at all. Muslims and Tamils may create a minority of the society in Sri Lanka, but the President has always stressed that the word “minority” should not be practiced, for all Sri Lankans are equal to each other.

What was the first verdict you issued as a judge?

First, I was a prosecutor attorney which is one rank shy from the judge.

Is there prosecution for prosecutor attorneys to carry out?

The sole duty of a prosecutor attorney is to investigate the case. For example, in the Tsunami in Sri Lanka, around 30 thousand people were killed, and as the judge was not there at the time, I could issue a verdict as the second judge or the deputy judge. So I ordered for all the deceased to be buried.

Under what circumstances is a sentence of death penalty issued in Sri Lanka?

We do not have such a verdict in Sri Lanka.

Is there no execution sentence in Sri Lanka?

The Judiciary can issue such verdict, but when it is put forward to the President, he does not confirm it, for it has not been construed in the law.

You mean the President never signs a death penalty confirmed?

As a matter of fact, there is no death penalty. It only happens when the President orders it so.

Has the President ever sentenced someone to death?

No.

So, when someone carries out an act of homicide, they will only be sentenced to lifetime imprisonments?

Yes.

It really surprises me that a criminal prosecutor attorney accepts to be an ambassador. Who did propose the ambassadorship to you?

The President.

Why did he select you?

That you should directly ask him.

The President does not know you in person. Therefore, the Minister of Foreign Affairs must have introduced you to him. What factor do you consider most important in choosing you as an ambassador?

I have my very own, specific way of life, and in my book, named the Challenge, I explained about it. I studied at a small school and had poor friends. I was a prosecutor attorney for 25 years and never political person. I lost a brother and 80 relatives in the Tsunami and dedicated some of my lands to reconstruct the villages ruined then. My interests are those I just told you. That is why the President decided to offer me such a position. However, he had given me 5 more positions before. That means I have most definitely proved myself worthy that all these positions have been given to me.

You absolutely deserve way more than such positions, and we hope to witness your promotions to higher positions.

I built 4 mosques in the most Southern regions of Sri Lanka where my village is located, just for the sake of God.

So, you are a well-off person.

As I said, I began with the poorest school and now have 3 children whose bank accounts do not receive a dime from me. I spend all my earnings on my country.

When did you get married?

25 years ago.

How did you meet your wife?

She was a relative of ours.

How are the marriage rituals held in Sri Lanka?

Just like Iran. I proposed to her and we got married.

Does your wife work?

No, she does not. She is a housewife.

Is your wife here in Iran at the moment?

No, she lives in Sri Lanka.

Why is she not here?

Since my three children are studying law in Sri Lanka.

How many children do you have?

I have three daughters.

Did you push your children to educate in law, or they chose it themselves?

They decided so because my father had studied law, too.

When did you come to Iran?

January, 2012.

Had you travelled to Iran before that?

No.

How different do you find the Iran you have closely seen from that you used to have in mind?

Before coming here, I thought Iran was a rough Islamic country. But now, it more seems to me like a western country.

Why is there such an image about Iran?

At the time of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini was a famous character in Sri Lanka, and my father was interested in him, too, and used to quote his words just like Islamic anecdotes to us. I knew Ayatollah Khomeini to be a clergyman with long beard, hence, generalized the picture I had from him to all the Iranians. When I came to Iran and saw everything myself, I concluded that Iran is more like a western country. Even the hijab Iranian women wear is new and interesting. However, if you spare the hijab, it totally looks like a western country.

I used to think that Iran is an extremist Muslim country. In our country, we wear suits at our official celebrations. I did not even think there is such a thing in Iran! And that shows Iran is an advanced country.

Another thing is that Iranian women are quite modern. While they wear hijab, they wear much make up, too. Like Americans, they drive their cars with one hand on the wheels, and hold their cigarettes with another. They drive very well, of course. I believe other Muslim countries can live up to sublimation just like Iran did.

Are you not interested in your daughters studying law here in Tehran?

In Sri Lanka, law is taught in accordance with the U.K., and is different from here. Other than that, there are pretty good academic centers and universities in Tehran.

In which aspects do you think Iran has advanced the most?

Iran can say a great lot in terms of progress in the whole world. Iranian technology has very well shown itself. Highways, tunnels, and buildings such as Milad Tower are beyond comparison to all I have seen thus far. But the small cities are on a slow track to progress here. I have witnessed the matter myself that many people from other cities immigrate to Tehran to go on with their lives, whereas should there be a balance between villages and cities in terms of their progress, it can be way more beneficial to the country.

On the mid-January, we saw Rishad Batiudin, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, taking a trip to Iran. What was the most significant achievement of his trip?

In the last two years, we did not hold any joint economic commission between Iran and Sri Lanka, and that is why we could reach positive outcomes after we held the last one. I can say that the meeting was a success.

How much have the sanctions influenced the level of economic relations between Iran and Sri Lanka? Do you know an exact number of the trade between the two countries in 2013?

The sanctions have much affected the economic ties between the two countries, and in the last year, the economic ties between Iran and Sri Lanka have moved at a very low pace. As far as I know, the trades between the two countries were not any more than $200 million, which is comparably nothing.

Given the likelihood of easing the sanctions against Iran and the initiation of some rivalry between some countries over the establishing of economic ties with Iran, does the government of Sri Lanka have any plans to expand its economic relations with Iran?

The demands for tea are the best which exist between the two countries. I know that Iran’s tea is exported to Sri Lanka where it is processed and will be imported to Iran to sell. After that, the highest demands from Iran relate to coconut powders or pineapple which we export thereto.

Sri Lanka’s main sources of income include the export of tea, rice, pepper, diamond, emerald, sapphire, coconut, wood timbers and fish. Why do you not exercise a plan to export rice to Iran?

That is because the sanctions have made everything so difficult. I hope our export to Iran increases in the future.

When do you invite Sri Lankan merchants to Tehran for the expansion of economic ties?

These days, we see that Iran and P5+1 are holding talks to remove the sanctions. Once it is completed, Sri Lanka will have no problem for inviting Sri Lankan merchants to Iran. We will make a decision about that as soon as possible.

You had a trip to Hormozgan and met with its governor. What was your achievement there?

I travelled to Bandar Abbas. There, there were lots of fruits and palm, and the governor and mayor are very active in trades. We would like to import fruits from this province to Sri Lanka, for fruits in Iran are offered at a very affordable price. Even here in Tehran, apple and pomegranate are for sale at a cheap price. In Sri Lanka, only well-off people afford to buy pomegranate.

You visited Gilan and Anzali Free Zone where you agreed upon establishing a tea research center between Iran and Sri Lanka, right?

Yes, we talked over the matter.

When will this project go to implementation phases?

On my trip to Sri Lanka, I will talk about this to Mr. Rishad Batiudin, the Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka.

What good news can we wait to hear once you come back from Sri Lanka?

I will carry surprising and valuable messages for you then.

What other provinces of Iran have you visited so far?

Just these two, Gilan and Hormozgan.

If you want to draw a picture about Iran for someone who lives in the Eastern Asia, how will you do it? With what words do you introduce Iran to them?

Iranians are warm, philanthropic people. Iran is a very beautiful country which has made a lot of progress, and can set a fairly special example for them to know more of the Western Asia countries. You will be able to enjoy all 4 seasons if you travel to Iran.

In Sri Lanka, most of the Muslims are Sunni. I studied a lot for a year to know more about the Shia, researched about the difference between Sunni and Shia, and figured that the Shias love Imam Husain from the bottom of their hearts. That might interest you to know that my father loved Imam Husain even more than Iranians do. I believe that Shias and Sunnis are both Muslims and there is no real difference between them. That is why I wrote a book about Karbala. Of course, I began writing a book about jihad, too.

What does your book about jihad cover?

When I first came to Iran, I followed the news on Al Jazeera. The phrase “there is no god but Allah” (لااله الاالله) was repeatedly broadcast on the channel. It showed Muslims with guns in their hands who were shooting while repeating that phrase, and the one who died would said “Allah Akbar” just before they took the last breath. I discussed this matter in my book about Jihad, saying that was not the real Islam. In fact, Islam is the religion of peace. This book has been published in four languages of Farsi, Tamili, Sinhala, and English.

Of course, I still continue my studies about Shia and wish to gain new information about the differences between Shia and Sunni. Every Muslim, Shia or Sunni, believes in La Ilah-a-Ela Allah-Mohammad Rasullolah – (لااله‌الا‌الله – محمد رسول‌الله)- “There is no god but Allah, Mohammad is the Prophet of Allah.” The Shias believe in 12 Imams, and we also respect the Imams as they were religious leaders.

Considering that a majority of Sri Lankan are Buddhist, how much has Buddhism cared for peace and respect?

Buddhists are peace-seeking people. We, Muslims, comprise 10% of the country’s population. Our President is a Buddhist, too. He has given me the position of an ambassador as a Muslim. In Sri Lanka, many merchants are working who are all Muslim. The media in Sri Lanka have freedom of expression, and that is why our country is on its way to progress.

Where you live, the Buddhist majority respects the Muslims. Then, why do the Buddhists in Myanmar massacre the Muslims there?

That does not relate to our country. I only can talk about my own country.

Sikh has been given birth out of the combination of Islam and Buddhism. Does it exist in Sri Lanka, too?

The Sikh religion does not exist in our country. There, Buddhists, Tamils, and Muslims are living together in peace. In the past, terrorist groups were active, but today, they are all gone.

Will you conduct your researches on the Sikhs just as you did on Shia and Sunni?

When I travel to India, I will surely research about the Indian Sikhs as well.