Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister of External Affairs met with an 8-member delegation led by the Managing Director of Gazprom International Mr. Gulev Veleriy at the Ministry of External Affairs in Colombo.  Associated with the meeting was the Ambassador for the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka, Vladimir P. Mikhaylov.

Gazprom is one of the world’s largest energy companies.  Its major business lines are geological exploration, production, transportation, storage, processing and marketing of hydrocarbons as well as generation and marketing of heat and electric power.

Prof. Peiris discussed with the visiting delegation issues connected with Russian cooperation in such fields as oil exploration in the Mannar Basin and the Cauvery Basin, the procurement of liquid natural gas, and technical expertise in respect of refineries.

The Minister underlined the need for economic projects of major magnitude to buttress the strong relationship between Sri Lanka and the Russian Federation.

The visiting delegation said that Gazprom would be happy to bear the expenses of training a team of   Sri Lankans in one of Russia’s leading institutions in the field of oil and gas technology.

Ministry of External Affairs

Colombo  

16th August 2011