President Rajapaksa, during his visit to Beijing met with Li Ruogu, President of EXIM Bank of China to review the on going development projects funded by China. They had a fruitful discussion and Mr Li Ruogu expressed warm sentiments of China’s friendship towards Sri Lanka and assured sincere co-operation to complete Bank assisted projects on time as a manifestation of goodwill from China.
The President thanked Mr Li Ruogu for speedy arrangement of funding for the Hambantota Port Project and discussed further assistance from the bank for the next phase of funding for the Puttalam Coal Power Project, the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway and also the Hambantota Bunkering project. Mr Li assured expeditious processing of funding facilities for these projects and also expressed his desire to visit Sri Lanka on due completion of the projects.
President Rajapaksa later in the day, met with the Chief Executive Officers of a few leading construction companies that have undertaken development projects in Sri Lanka. In meeting with Chen Fenjian, the President of the China Harbour Engineering Company, the President expressed his sincere thanks for the smooth progress of the construction work. Mr Fenjian assured the completion of work without any interruptions. Mr Xie Biao, President of the China National Machinery Equipment Import & Export Corporation promised to keep to the accelerated time lines in completing the power Project and assured their commitment towards undertaking the Second Phase of the Norochcholai Project which will total 900 MW of power to the National grid, thereby reducing the overall energy cost in Sri Lanka.
The CEO of the Yangjian Corporation Mr Tang Bo, during his brief interaction with the President indicated that upon completion of the Arts Theatre, it will stand as a landmark monument in testimony of the friendship between Sri Lanka and China. The project cost of US $ 23 million is financed by China with grants and soft loans.
The final meeting was held with Mr Shen Heting of the China Metallurgical Group Corporation on the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway Project. Mr Heting also assured the expeditious launching of the work in Sri Lanka in keeping with the proposed time lines for completion.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Beijing.
(Courtesy : Ministry of Foreign Affairs)