Czech Republic keen to lend $ 2.2 b for Sri Lanka

Monday, 17 October 2011 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Minister of Trade of the Czech Republic Martin Kocourek along with a high level business delegation from the Czech Republic met with Minster of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa at the Cinnamon Lakeside last week to review bilateral relations and discuss ways and means of further improving economic cooperation between the two countries.

They had also discussed main projects presently under consideration, which include the modernisation of the Oil Refinery at Sapugaskanda, Inginiyagala Power Station and solid waste management projects in Kurunegala and Kandy.

Minister Kocourek had stated that the Czech Government was willing to grant a loan of US$ 2.2 billion to Sri Lanka from the Czech Exim Bank for development assistance to modernise the Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery, Inginiyagala Power Station and solid waste management project projects in Kurunegala and Kandy.

They had further discussed investment opportunities in the areas of water project, transportation and logistics, power and energy, petroleum, apparels and highways in Sri Lanka.

Minister of Petroleum Industry Susil Premajayanth, Deputy Minister of Trade Czech Republic Milan Hovorka, Ambassador of Czech Republic for Sri Lanka Miloslav Stasek, Chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs Milan Urban, Director General Filip Ters, Minister’s Cabinet and Czech Republic officials also participated at the talks.