Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran participates in United Nations art exhibition

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Iran participated in an art exhibition titled “Humanity, Solidarity and One Planet” that was held at the Niavaran Cultural-Historic Complex in Tehran from 7-17 December 2023. 

The event was organised by the United Nations (UN) Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Iran and the Diplomatic Missions based in Tehran. It also brought together pieces of art and heritage from countries across the world and highlighted that, despite the diversity of our world, humans are all part of one and have one planet as our home. 

During the opening ceremony, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Islamic Republic of Iran G.M.V. Wishwanath Aponsu conveyed his gratitude, on behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, to the UN Resident Coordinator Stefan Priesner and his staff in Tehran for the arrangements of the successful exhibition that recalled the core principles of the United Nations based on the UN Charter. Further, Ambassador Aponsu appreciated the opportunity, for the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Tehran to exhibit Sri Lanka’s vivid photographic stories for the people of Iran.

The UN Resident Coordinator and the Ambassador together with other dignitaries visited art work depicting ruins of Sigiriya, the ancient capital built by King Kassapa I (477-95 A.D.). The Ambassador described the ruins of Sigiriya, located in the Central Province of Sri Lanka, with themes of humanity, solidarity and the interconnectedness of one planet. Furthermore, the Sri Lankan envoy highlighted the collective responsibility to preserve the Sigiriya as a UNESCO World Heritage site for the benefit of present and future generations and invited the dignitaries and other representatives to visit Sri Lanka during the upcoming holiday season including the Nowruz period (Persian New Year in March 2024).  

More than 35 UN Member States including Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Cote D’Ivoire, Croatia, Finland, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe participated. The Exhibition that was visited by more than 14, 000 members of the public in Iran and diplomatic community, was one of the initiatives to mark the UN Day in Iran. 

The Embassy of Sri Lanka utilised the UN art exhibition to promote Sri Lanka tourism in Iran.